Guardians of the Galaxy was new territory for Marvel Studios. After several films focusing on the much more well known heroes of Earth, the studio opted to veer off-planet and tell the story of five interplanetary misfits who were largely unknown to general audiences. Their gambit paid off massively, with the film making over $773 million worldwide, but the future wasn't always so set for the loveable band of losers.
According to director James Gunn, the first trailer for the film, which introduced all five characters, didn't fare so well with test audiences. "That trailer tested not very well,” Gunn admitted in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “We had another trailer that was very cheesy that sold the movie as something different than what it was — that tested a little better.”
Gunn went on to reveal that it was actually Marvel that opted to stay true to the film and stick with the original trailer, a move that Gunn admired and appreciated. “At the end of the day, the [marketing] guys were like, 'This is what the movie is. We are selling what the movie is. Not something else,' " he said. "You've got to sell the movie for what it is, and that's what they did. They really bought my trust with that on the first movie."
Gunn also confirmed with the publication that the first official trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. will be with us soon, as he had recently met with Marvel to discuss how much to give away. "We were talking about how much to give away — and we're not going to give away very much," he teased. “With Guardians, it's such an emotional and physical journey, going to all these different places. It's like, 'God, do I really want to show this planet we go to in the middle of the movie? Those are always hard choices to make."
Are you glad Marvel decided to stick to their guns with the trailer? We've included it below if you need a reminder. Let us know what you think in the comments! Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. releases May 5, 2017.
About The Author:
Matt is a graduate of the Ryerson University School of Journalism, and has been a fan of superheroes since he picked up his first comic book issue as a child. While he works as a professional musician, Matt has a massive passion for comic books, films and heroes, along with participating in discussion and debate with the CBM community.