Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 20 May 2019

James Gunn says he's a better person after being fired

By MIKE CIDONI LENNOX the public eye promoting The 52-year-old found him-
AP Entertainment Reporter the horror film "Brightburn," self under intense scrutiny
LOS ANGELES (AP) — It's which he produced, and last year when tweets from
been a roller-coaster year resuming work on the third nearly a decade ago in
for James Gunn, who was "Guardians" movie. which he joked about sub-
fired from "Guardians of The ordeal has made jects such as pedophilia
the Galaxy Vol. 3" over old him thankful for his friends and rape resurfaced be-
tweets in July, and rehired who have supported him cause of far-right propa-
this March. But the writer-di- throughout. Actress Eliza- gandists Mike Cernovich
rector who shepherded the beth Banks, who stars in and Jack Posobiec after
first two "Guardians" films to "Brightburn," is one of those Gunn was critical of Presi-
critical and box office suc- in the circle of people he dent Donald Trump. Gunn
cess said the experience can go to. apologized for his tweets,
has been an educational "There's a lot of things that but Walt Disney Co. chair-
one. people talk about Holly- man Alan Horn said that
"I'm a better person than wood-cutthroat this and they were inconsistent with
I was a year ago," Gunn Hollywood-bad that and the studio's values.
told The Associated Press all the things that are ter- Both fans and his cast in- In this June 25, 2018 file photo writer-director James Gunn at-
on Saturday. "It's made me rible about Hollywood. But cluding Chris Pratt, Bradley tends the premiere of "Ant-Man and the Wasp" in Los Angeles.
more creative and focused the truth is ... I have one re- Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Vin Associated Press
on the things that really ally good gift ... I'm attract- Diesel and other stars ral-
matter to me, which are ed to really good people lied behind him in the wake been reinstated as the writ- thing to do."
my friends, my relationships and I have chosen to put of the firing last July. er and director of "Guard- The "Guardians" cast was
and the movies that I'm wonderful people around "Although I don't support ians of the Galaxy Vol. 3." similarly pleased.
making." me, whether it's the actors James Gunn's inappropri- Marvel Studios President "It's awesome. I'm really, re-
Although even after his fir- I work with, the crew mem- ate jokes from years ago, Kevin Feige told the AP last ally, really happy," 'Guard-
ing, Gunn didn't exactly bers I work with, my, you he is a good man," Pratt month that he was glad it ians' actress Pom Klemen-
have a fallow period as know, the writers I would said. happened. tieff said at the premiere
he was hired fairly soon by deal with, the studio peo- But it was still somewhat "It was the right thing," Feige of "Avengers: Endgame" in
Marvel's rival to work on the ple I deal with," Gunn said. surprising that Disney back- said. "It was something that April. "He's an amazing hu-
sequel to "Suicide Squad." "There's a lot of really good tracked and this March an- Alan Horn at Disney re- man being, and he's the
Now, Gunn is fully back in people in this industry." nounced that Gunn had ally believed was the right best director."q