Marvel Studios Reportedly Not Interested In James Gunn's Drax & Mantis Spin-Off

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is officially set to release in theaters on May 5, 2023. That will be exactly six years after Vol. 2 released and nearly nine years since the original. Director James Gunn recently said "it’s a little stressful that the release date is so close" despite it being about two years away. 

Gunn also recently said that he plans for Vol. 3 to be the last of his Guardians films. Drax actor Dave Bautista added to that recently saying Vol. 3 is "probably going to be the end" of him as that character.

Of course, spin-offs like The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and I Am Groot are set to come out for Marvel Studios, but one rumored Guardians offshoot doesn't appear to be happening. 

NO DRAX AND MANTIS MOVIE IN THE WORKS

Marvel

In a recent interview with Digital Spy, Dave Bautista said he doesn't think Marvel Studios is "very interested" in a Drax and Mantis movie within the MCU. Bautista mentioned that there were talks about it and it was director James Gunn's idea, although he hasn't "heard any follow-up" on the matter from Marvel Studios:

"There were talks for a while about a Drax and Mantis film. It was really because it was James Gunn's idea. He really wanted to do a Drax and Mantis film. He laid it out to me. I thought it was such a brilliant idea, but I haven't heard any follow-up from the studio."

Bautista added that he's not sure this project would fit into the MCU's massive slate of upcoming projects. 

"I don't think they're very interested, or it doesn't fit into the way they have things mapped out..."

THE END OF THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY?

All signs point to The Holiday Special and Vol. 3 being the final time MCU fans will spend time with these beloved characters. There's always options in this universe for where a character may appear, but this team of Star-Lord, Groot, Rocket, Gamora, Drax, and Mantis will likely never share the screen together after Gunn's third installment. 

This Drax and Mantis film seems like it would've been better suited on the small Disney+ screen, but Bautista himself has said he “would be miserable” doing a show because of the makeup. Maybe one day, Gunn will reveal in an interview or on Twitter what was going to happen in the Drax and Mantis movie; but for now fans will have to be satisfied with their appearances in Thor: Love and Thunder, The Holiday Special and Vol. 3.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will blast into theaters on May 5, 2023.