James Gunn reveals the reasons for Bug’s absence in the popular Marvel space trilogy
In every delivery of Guardians of the Galaxywe saw new members join the team, while some unexpected guests briefly leveled up. However, one figure mentioned in early drafts of the script never made it to the big screen: Insectthe charismatic and peculiar character of Marvel Comics. James Gunn, director of the trilogy, has finally explained the reason for his absence in the MCU saga.
The reason behind the absence of bugs
In a recent post on Threads, Gunn made this clear Marvel did not have the rights to the Bug characterwhich made it impossible to include in films. This character, who has become an essential member of the team of Guardians of the Galaxy In the comics, he was initially introduced Micronauts n.1 as part of the Micronauts universe. Bug was known for his stealth abilities, keen vision, and ability to stick to surfaces, similar to Spider-Man. Although Gunn showed interest in bringing the character to the screen, rights hurdles prevented Bug from joining Star-Lord and the company’s film crew.
For those who don’t know him, Bug is a Marvel character who is currently part of the Guardians team in the Earth-616 continuity. His story in the comics is that of a daring thief, a courageous agent and a born prankster, who joined the Guardians after a series of conflicts within the group. Rocket Raccoon invited him to join in helping resolve the conflict between the intergalactic empires of the Shi’ar and Kree. In addition to his physical prowess, Bug is equipped with antennae that give him an added sense of alertness and exceptional perception, making him an invaluable ally in Guardian missions.
The discarded cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1
In a 2014 interview, Gunn revealed that Bug had been considered for a brief cameo in the first film. Guardians of the Galaxy. In an early draft of the screenplay, Bug would appear in the prison, where he would be sacrificedalthough Gunn ultimately discarded this idea. “One of the drafts had Bug in it, but he died in prison and I thought it was stupid,” Gunn said. Instead, he decided to focus on the five main Guardians: Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. Although the director also included supporting characters such as Nebula, Yondu, and Ronan, he felt that five main Guardians were enough to create the team dynamic he had in mind.
Over the course of the trilogy, the Guardians team has seen a constant turnover of members and allies. In the second episode they united Mantis, Yondu and Nebulawhich enriched the group dynamic and brought new stories to the forefront. By the end of Guardians of the Galaxy vol.3the team consisted of Rocket as leader, accompanied by Kraglin, Cosmo, Phyla-Vell, Adam Warlock and Blurb, while Star-Lord left his future with the Guardians up in the air.
A future on stand-by
With James Gunn leaving for DC Studios to lead the reboot of the DC Universe, the future of the Guardians of the Galaxy in the MCU is uncertain. However, the trilogy left a significant mark on the MCU, introducing an irreverent and emotional approach to superhero storytelling and marking a before and after in the tone of Marvel films.
Guardians of the Galaxy it can currently be enjoyed on Disney+.