The Honestly Terrible Advice James Gunn Got When He Was Putting The First GOTG Movie Together

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I’ll admit, when I first saw the trailer for *Guardians of the Galaxy* in 2014, I genuinely thought it might be a flop for Marvel. How wrong I was! Now, if I rank all the Marvel movies, *Guardians of the Galaxy* is easily at the top. If you’re like me and find yourself singing “Come and Get Your Love” while driving, you’ll understand why. Recently, the film’s writer and director, James Gunn, revealed some terrible advice he received from the studio while making the movie.

James Gunn, the director who recently moved from Marvel to DC, recently held a Q&A session with fans on Threads, as he frequently does. When one fan asked him what the worst direction he’d ever received was, Gunn immediately responded.

Someone suggested the soundtrack for Guardians should be replaced with 90s Britney Spears hits, and honestly, it’s the most ridiculous suggestion I can recall, even if it wasn’t necessarily the *worst* idea ever.

It’s hard to believe someone once suggested replacing Blue Swede with Britney Spears’ “Oops!… I Did It Again” in a film! Now known for his brilliant use of music, the director of *Superman* – particularly with *Guardians of the Galaxy* – created some of the most unforgettable musical moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thankfully, he didn’t take that suggestion. Imagine if Marvel executives had insisted on a ’90s pop soundtrack instead! We were lucky to get the *Awesome Mix* soundtracks, which have become truly iconic.

Executives didn’t quite understand what made *Guardians of the Galaxy* so special. Director James Gunn’s use of Peter Quill’s mixtape wasn’t just a nostalgic touch; it was essential to the film’s emotional core. The music reveals Quill’s backstory-particularly the loss of his mother and his memories of Earth-and makes his space adventures relatable. Frankly, this choice made the movie incredibly enjoyable and stood out from other superhero films.

Fortunately, the filmmaker from Missouri trusted his gut. The initial worry that people wouldn’t enjoy the soundtrack quickly proved wrong. *Awesome Mix Vol. 1* became a platinum-selling hit, reaching the top of the Billboard 200 chart. Even people unfamiliar with the Guardians of the Galaxy before 2014 now instantly associate the song “Hooked on a Feeling” with characters like Star-Lord, Gamora, and Rocket.

Disney+ offers a streaming library including all the *Guardians of the Galaxy* movies and other films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Monthly plans start at $9.99 with ads, or $15.99 per month for an ad-free experience. You can also save 16% by paying $159.99 upfront for a full year. See the deal here.

It was a fun surprise to see James Gunn’s playlist for Vol. 3 included so many popular songs from the ’80s and ’90s. Although Britney Spears wasn’t featured, fans enjoyed tracks like Beastie Boys’ “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” and Florence + The Machine’s classic, “Dog Days Are Over.”

The takeaway? If you’re a creative visionary like James Gunn (the director behind films like *Super* and *Slither*), trust your instincts and don’t let criticism hold you back. And for fans, you can enjoy all the great music from Gunn’s *Guardians of the Galaxy* trilogy anytime with a Disney+ subscription.

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2025-09-22 15:08