According to Deadline, actor Michael Rooker of The Walking Dead fame, will be joining Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy in the role of Yondu, a “game hunter native to Centauri IV, which in Marvel’s continuity was the first planet system to be colonized outside of the Sun’s solar system. He eventually bands together with fellow fugitives to form the superhero team.”
This will mark the third time that Rooker will be working with Gunn, as the pair previously teamed up for the horror film Slither and on the superhero indie Super.
In addition to Rooker, the film has already cast Chris Pratt as Star Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer. That means that the only major roles left to fill are Groot and Rocket Raccoon.
Unfortunately, I’m not too well versed on the mythology behind the Guardians of the Galaxy but from what I understand, the character of Yondu doesn’t have any super-human powers, but he is quite skilled with a bow and arrow and also has a sixth sense, which allows him to have “limited” empathic abilities with various life forms.
To be honest, this news doesn’t do much for me as I’m finding it hard to get excited for this particular Marvel film. Usually, I’m always up for seeing another effort from the superhero juggernaut but this one just doesn’t have my interest. Perhaps it’s because I’m not familiar at all with the comic, or maybe it’s because the cast just isn’t that appealing. It could also be because at this stage, we have no idea how the film is going to fit in with the studio’s other projects and how it will connect with everything.
Either way, hopefully I’m wrong, and I’m sure I will be. Marvel rarely, if ever, disappoints and I’m sure that they’ll give us something worthy of our $10 with Guardians of the Galaxy.