Joss Whedon Praises Guardians of the Galaxy Director Gunn

Wait, what? The last time we looked, the idea that James Gunn will direct Guardians of the Galaxy was little more than a well-founded rumor. But now it's been confirmed--and apparently he's been working at it for long enough that Marvel Phase II mastermind Joss Whedon has already formed an opinion on Gunn's version of the film. In an interview with MTV News (embedded below), Whedon says of Gunn:

"James is what makes me think it will work. I myself was sort of like, 'Well, I liked Rocket Raccoon as a kid, but I'm not sure how that plays [to a wider audience].' And then they said, 'Well, we're thinking about using James Gunn.' And I said, 'Oh, then no, you're fine.' He is so off the wall, and so crazy, but so smart, such a craftsman and he builds from his heart. He loves the raccoon. Needs the raccoon. This is the guy who wrote The Specials. People don't understand how influential that movie was about heroes, about taking heroes and making them mundane. And [he directed] Super. Gunn has barely started, but already has a very twisted take on it, but it all comes from a real love for the material. It's going to be hard for the humans to keep up. I know he's going to come from left field and I'm going to go, 'What?' And then, 'Of course, why didn't I think of that?' And then I'm going to beat him!"

, based on the Dan Abnett-Andy Lanning take on Marvel Comics' cosmic superhero team, will make its way to theaters on August 1, 2014.

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