James Gunn will not be coming back to Guardians of the Galaxy.

As first reported by Variety,Disney and Marvel will not reinstate Gunn as director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, despite significant pressure from stars of the film and the public.

SEE ALSO:At Comic-Con, mixed feelings on James Gunn's firing from 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3'

The decision reportedly came following a meeting between Gunn and Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn. Sources told Varietythe meeting was "civil and professional," but Horn stood by his decision despite the push for Gunn to be given a second chance by him and his agency.

Although apparently not present in the meeting, Marvel president Kevin Feige is also reported to agree with the decision, and the search for a new director for the film's third instalment will continue when Feige returns from out of town.

Gunn was ousted from the film in July after inappropriate jokes he'd made about pedophilia were unearthed by alt-right Twitter users, seeking retribution for the director's outspoken stance against Trump.

Leaping to his defence were the franchise's stars, with Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, and Michael Rooker, plus Gunn's brother, Sean.

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They issued a signed letter after his sudden firing, stating their support for Gunn.

"Each of us looks forward to working with our friend James again in the future," the letter read. "His story isn't over — not by a long shot."

Yesterday, Pratt told the Associated Press the firing had made it not an easy time for the Guardians of the Galaxy cast.

"We all love James, and he's a good friend of ours, but we also really love playing the Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s a complicated situation for everybody," he said.

Given the apparent final decision made on Gunn, it appears Dave Bautista, who plays Drax the Destroyer, won't be returning. Bautista told ShortList last week that if Gunn is out, then he is too.

"Where I’m at right now is that if [Marvel] don’t use that script, then I’m going to ask them to release me from my contract, cut me out or recast me," he said.

"I’d be doing James a disservice if I didn’t."

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TopicsDisneyMarvel