Something has been a little off with Marvel Studios in the post "Avengers: Endgame" era. Anticipation for projects in Phases Four and Five hasn’t yet reached the levels they were at during the initial three phases, and fans have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out what the issue is. Some have pointed out that too much of Phase Four was spent introducing new characters such as Moon Knight, the Eternals, Kate Bishop, Shang-Chi, Kamala Khan, and Kang the Conqueror. But James Gunn – who knows a thing or two about storytelling in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – has pointed at a narrative choice that, to him, is making MCU storytelling difficult.

James Gunn plans to wrap up his involvement in the MCU with this summer’s "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," the conclusion of his trilogy that will introduce Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), reunite Gamora (Zoe Saldana) with her “family,” and explore Rocket’s backstory. Gunn, of course, is taking his talents to DC Films, where he’ll serve as co-CEO with producer Peter Safran as well as write and direct "Superman: Legacy." In a wide-ranging interview with Rolling Stone, however, Gunn talked about the MCU, and his reason why the stories in Phases Four and Five might be struggling.