Looked at charitably, the reference to GOTG (and Raiders of the Lost Ark) could simply indicate that the filmmakers are seeking a change in tone from what's gone before, not necessarily to lift the "formula" (whatever that is) intact from another film. Gunn is (presumably) right in that the "money" in Hollywood tends to flow toward projects with something "bankable," whether that's pedigree, star power, or formula. I think he's also right to decry the notion (that is apparently in some investors' heads) that all a future film has to do is simply copy the Guardians or Deadpool "formula" (again, whatever that is) to be successful.



So filmmakers will continue to talk about their films in terms of what's gone before to make investors (and the movie-going public) feel less insecure about spending money on their movie, but hopefully, like Gunn says, they will also look to their own vision and not to rote copying of what's gone before in search of a "surefire thing."



I say we wait and see. This may just be Hollywood-ese, shorthand for the idea that a lot of fantasy films are dire and serious in tone, and that the D&D movie team is looking instead for a film that is more "wahoo" and adventurous.