Dave Bautista has revealed filming will start on the new Guardians of The Galaxy movie next year, but believes the storyline may have changed.
The actor says that due to the events of the last year - with the pandemic causing delays to shoots, and the untimely death of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman - plans have shifted.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the 51-year-old said he wasn't sure how everything was going to pan out, but said filming was due to start fairly soon.
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He said: "I believe it's okay to say that we will go into production late next year.
"I saw a script early on when we were all on schedule and James Gunn was attached before everything went nutso. I believe because [Marvel's] whole calendar has changed [due to the pandemic shutdown and Guardians' production delays], that storylines have changed, and they won't intersect like originally planned.
"Obviously, we lost Chadwick [Boseman], so I don't know where that leaves Black Panther. I haven't seen a new script, is the short answer."
Boseman, 43, died in August this year after a long battle with cancer.
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In a statement posted to his Twitter, the actor's family revealed he had been diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016. He'd been battling with the illness for the last four years as it progressed to stage IV.
The statement read: "It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman.
"Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV.
"A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.
"It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther.
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"He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side.
"The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time."
When the coronavirus pandemic began, Guardians of The Galaxy director James Gunn assured fans that Vol. 3 was not going to be affected by Covid-19.
In a series of tweets, Gunn told Marvel's legion of fans: "Right now the plans with Vol 3 are also exactly the same as they were before coronavirus."
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Sadly, however, this was not the case.
It's hoped now that with the vaccine being rolled out in different parts of the world, life will soon eb able to return to some kind of normal.
Featured Image Credit: MarvelTopics: Entertainment, black panther, Guardians of the Galaxy, UK Entertainment, US Entertainment