Once considered the colorful outliers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Drax and (Baby) Groot have fast become household names following the barnstorming success of Guardians of the Galaxy three years ago. It’s a credit to James Gunn, then, that the universe’s unlikeliest heroes are now one of the more bankable motley crews in Hollywood, and they’ll soon be returning to the big screen via Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Pegged for May 5th, excitement for James Gunn’s galactic follow-up is currently through the roof, particularly after it was revealed the Guardians 2 scored exceptionally well in Marvel’s internal test screenings – not since Shane Black’s Iron Man 3 has a Marvel movie fared so well. And so, as we inch closer and closer to release, fans are currently pouring over each and every tidbit relating to Star-Lord’s next adventure.
Cinema Blend caught up with James Gunn in anticipation of The Belko Experiment, a tight-knit thriller he crafted alongside director Greg McLean, and it was here that Gunn took the opportunity to share general character arcs for each member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Don’t worry, there’s no spoilers to be found here – that is, unless you’ve subjected yourself to a total media blackout ahead of May 5th.
Star-Lord: “That’s the first thing people say when they see the movie. The first movie was about Peter Quill, and the second movie has every single character have a complete arc, a complete story. They each learn something. It’s a story about Peter Quill, with his father, but also his abusive step-father, Yondu.
Gamora: “It’s about Nebula’s relationship with her sister, Gamora, and how that’s not all that we saw in the first movie. It’s a lot deeper and more complicated than that. We thought in the first movie that Gamora was the good guy, and Nebula’s the bad guy, but that really isn’t the whole story.”
Rocket Raccoon: “I think it’s a story about this poor little Rocket, who is in search of a father and in search of a somebody to give a shit, who cannot find it – and maybe does a little bit with Michael Rooker’s character.”
Drax: “It’s about Dave Bautista and Mantis together, who become on the one hand close friends, and then, on the other hand, she’s a surrogate daughter for the daughter that was murdered.”
Baby Groot: “And of course Baby Groot’s relationship with all of them, they are the worst parents in the entire world! Who else brings a two-year-old son into a giant battle with a giant monster? Terrible parents! And maybe Gamora and Rocket are better than the other two. The other two are terrible. All of those things come together in a way that seems pretty magical.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 kicks off Marvel’s 2017 slate on May 5th, leaving the door open for both Spider-Man: Homecoming and Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok. In news relating to the Marvel universe, Telltale Games has officially blown the lid off its episodic series, which promises a whole new adventure for Star-Lord and the gang.
