Kurt Russell Teases The Mantis/Ego Dynamic In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ranks as one of the most anticipated films of the year, and for good reason. James Gunn blew the world away with 2014’s wildly entertaining original, a movie that defied every odd and exceeded every expectation. The second installment promises more action, more humor, and more intergalactic shenanigans, and it’s a safe bet that Gunn and his fellow filmmakers did everything they could to expand upon the greatness established in the sequel’s beloved predecessor.

So far though, we really don’t know too much about the plot or the new characters that are set to be introduced. One of the most mysterious has been Kurt Russell’s Ego the Living Planet, but in a recent interview with ComicBook.com, the actor confirmed a few new details, revealing that his character will indeed be connected to Pom Klementieff’s Mantis.

According to the report, he kept mum about the true nature of the relationship and only divulged enough to whet our appetite without fully satisfying it. Of the relationship between Mantis and Ego, Russell said the following:

“Yeah, what she is to me? That’s not good, actually. No. It’s so hard. It really is. It’s really weird, and it’s great fun to talk about. That’s what’s tough about it. I don’t think I should. I don’t think I should. I mean, she’s an important player, and her relationship to me and to the movie is an important one, so they’re all important. He knows the rocks he’s lifting, and put that back underneath there and we’ll get to that in the third act. He’s got a very full painter’s palette. It’s very intricate. It’s pretty intricate.

You’re going to kind of go, ‘Wait a minute. That means if that person’s that and that person’s over there, that means too late.’ It’s like, whoops. S***. So he makes you watch and think and points to the future a little bit and says, ‘There’s a lot to this story and to these relationships.’ And unfortunately, I can’t answer your question, really.”

Both Mantis and Ego boast interesting backgrounds. Mantis first appeared in a June 1973 issue of The Avengers while Ego was introduced in Thor #132 (1966). The former has a number of impressive skills and powers, the most prominent of them being her ability to read the emotions of others with stunning clarity.

Ego, on the other hand, originated as an actual planet and not as a caped Kurt Russell. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 seems to be taking serious liberties with the character, too; chief among them is the fact that Ego is not Star-Lord’s father in the comics. He’s a being of immense power, as demonstrated in his battles against Galactus and Beta Ray Bill, and he doesn’t sport the charm and charisma that emanate from Russell’s gleaming smile, wavy hair, and perfectly symmetrical face.

Despite these obvious differences, it’s unclear just how different these characters will be from their comic book counterparts. Gunn will undoubtedly exercise caution when making his tweaks though, as both are sacred ground for Marvel diehards.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 doesn’t hit theaters until May 5th, 2017, but tickets are on sale now, so be sure to grab them while you still can.