James Gunn
Guardian of the Galaxy director James GunnFacebook/ James Gunn

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy series will apparently see a new director in the third installment. James Gunn, who served as the writer and director for the first two Guardians movies, was recently fired by Disney over his controversial tweets about rape and pedophilia from about a decade ago. In light of his departure, celebrities and fans of the Guardians movies have taken the internet by storm.

Many have protested against Disney's decision to fire one of the most talented directors of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

The offensive statements in question from James Gunn's Twitter handle date back to 2008-09, with the director joking about sensitive issues targeting US president Donald Trump were reported by the conservative outlet, The Daily Caller. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn's controversial tweets date back almost a decade in which he joked about pedophiles and rape.

In a released statement, Disney confirmed the news of firing Gunn over such tweets. Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn was quoted as responding:

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 himself issued a statement on Friday, accepting the tweets from 2008-2009 were offensive and he "regrets" his action. He also added that his fans should perceive this that his offensive tweets do not reflect the person he is today.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 teaser poster featuring Star-Lord
Facebook / Guardians of the Galaxy

Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then.

Following Gunn's dismissal from Disney, many celebrities and fans alike took to Twitter to express their disdain against the studio. Dave Bautista, the former WWE star who plays the part of Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, has come forward in Gunn's defense. He accepted that the 51-year-old director's made mistakes in the past but added that Gunn is an extremely talented director.

Check out the reaction of other celebrities and fans:

Before the latest controversy surfaced, Gunn has been penning the script for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It was earlier announced that they were expecting to start the production in Atlanta in the fall and the movie will release somewhere in 2020.