James Gunn Opens Up About the Worst Advice He Got While Making ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’
James Gunn recently opened up about a piece of advice he received while developing the first Guardians of the Galaxy film that he still remembers vividly.
Speaking on social media platform Threads in response to a fan question about the worst note he had ever gotten, Gunn revealed someone suggested replacing the film’s 60s and 70s soundtrack with Britney Spears songs.
“I was told no one would like the Guardians soundtrack and I should change it to Britney Spears like 90’s songs. I don’t know if it’s the worst but it’s the one I remember the most!” Gunn wrote.
The iconic soundtrack has always been a key part of the film. It connects Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord, to his late mother.
In a 2014 interview with IGN, Gunn explained why the 80s music was so important: “Those [songs] are cultural reference points. I knew that when we were making a movie that’s in outer space, you want to have it be this big grand adventure, but you also want to ground people in something that’s real, that seems familiar…”
“The music and the Earth stuff is one of those touchstones that we have to remind us that, yeah, this is a real person from planet Earth who’s just like you and me. Except that he’s in this big outer space adventure.”
The soundtrack went on to become a historic success. It reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, marking the first time a soundtrack made entirely of previously released songs topped the chart.
In 2014, Gunn revealed that the mixtape in Quill’s Walkman would include classic 60s and 70s songs like Hooked on a Feeling, serving as a reminder of Quill’s connection to Earth, home, and family.
“It’s striking the balance throughout the whole movie, through something that is very unique, but also something that is easily accessible to people at the same time. The music and the Earth stuff is one of those touchstones that we have to remind us that, yeah, Quill is a real person from planet Earth who’s just like you and me. Except that he’s in this big outer space adventure,” Gunn added.
It’s hard to imagine Guardians of the Galaxy without its classic soundtrack. Gunn’s insistence on keeping the 60s and 70s hits helped give the film its charm and emotional heart. Do you think the movie would have worked with 90s pop songs instead? Share your thoughts in the comments.