James Gunn Opens Up About the Worst Advice He Got While Making ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

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James Gunn shared a memorable piece of advice he got while making the first *Guardians of the Galaxy* movie, and it’s stuck with him ever since.

So, I was reading James Gunn’s Threads feed, and he shared a truly wild fan suggestion he’d received. Apparently, someone thought it would be a *great* idea to swap out the classic 60s and 70s tunes in his film with… Britney Spears songs. Seriously! He said it was the worst note he’d ever gotten, and honestly, I can’t say I blame him. It’s a funny story, but also a testament to how strongly he felt about the music in his movie.

James Gunn recalled being advised that the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ soundtrack wouldn’t be popular and suggested replacing it with 90s pop hits by artists like Britney Spears. He doesn’t think it was the *worst* idea he’s ever heard, but it’s definitely the most memorable!

The film’s memorable soundtrack is central to the story. It represents a powerful connection for Peter Quill, or Star-Lord, to memories of his mother.

You know, I was reading an old interview James Gunn did with IGN back in 2014, and he really nailed why he used all those awesome 80s songs in *Guardians of the Galaxy*. He basically said those tunes are like little landmarks in our culture. He wanted the movie to feel huge and epic, being set in space and all, but also wanted to connect with the audience on a personal level, with things they *recognized*. It was about making the fantastical feel a little more real, you know?

The music and references to Earth help us remember that this character is a real person, just like us, who happens to be on an incredible space journey.

The soundtrack was a huge hit, reaching the top spot on the US Billboard 200 chart. This was a first – no soundtrack composed entirely of existing songs had ever reached number one before.

James Gunn shared in 2014 that the mixtape in Peter Quill’s Walkman would feature popular songs from the 1960s and 70s, such as “Hooked on a Feeling.” This music was meant to evoke Quill’s memories of Earth, his home, and his family.

Gunn explained that the movie successfully blends the unusual with the relatable. He highlighted the music and Earth-based elements as key reminders that the character Quill, despite being in an epic space adventure, is fundamentally a normal person from Earth, just like the audience.

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2025-09-20 11:15