Disney rehires James Gunn to direct 'Guardians of the Galaxy 3'

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Disney rehires James Gunn to direct 'Guardians of the Galaxy 3'

After being fired by Disney in July for decade-old inappropriate tweets, filmmaker James Gunn has been rehired to write and direct the third installment of the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' franchise for Marvel. At the time, Gunn had publicly apologized for the tweets saying he 'regretted them for many years since.' The 'Guardians' cast released an open letter later that month in full support of Gunn.

James Gunn has received a second chance.

Disney has rehired the filmmaker to write and direct the third installment of the Marvel superhero franchise, "Guardians of the Galaxy."

On Friday, Gunn went on Twitter to confirm the news, saying he was "tremendously grateful to every person out there who has supported me over the past few months."

JAMES GUNN RESPONDS TO UNEARTHED TWEETS ABOUT PEDOPHILIA 

"I am always learning and will continue to work at being the best human being I can be," he continued. "I deeply appreciate Disney's decision and I am excited to continue making films that investigate the ties of love that bind us all. I have been, and continue to be incredibly humbled by your love and support. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Love to you all."

Last July, Disney fired Gunn after decade-old tweets resurfaced in which he joked about topics including pedophilia and rape.

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At the time, Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn said, “The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James’ Twitter feed are indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values and we have severed our business relationship with him.”

Gunn's old tweets, which were dug up by critics online, included lines like, "I like when little boys touch me in my silly place."

"The best thing about being raped is when you're done being raped and it's like 'when this feels great, not being raped!" another tweet read.

Other now-deleted tweets from 2008-2011 included jokes about the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, AIDS and the holocaust.

Gunn publicly apologized, saying that his "words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative."

"I have regretted them for many years since — not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don't reflect the person I am today or have been for some time," Gunn's statement continued.

The "Guardians" cast released an open letter later that month in full support of Gunn and the movie's star, Chris Pratt, personally said he'd "love to see him reinstated as director of Volume 3."

Fox News' Nicole Darrah contributed to this report.