In 2014, Marvel released the first Guardians of the Galaxy film. Little did everyone know that it would be a massive commercial and critical success that would pave the way not only for more films but also a major crossover in the Avengers franchise. Nearly nine years after their debut, this ragtag group of misfits are about to embark on their farewell tour across the MCU. As such, Disney has released a brand new featurette for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 where we see the cast and director James Gunn reflect upon the impact the films have had on them and the entire MCU.
Pratt recalls, when he first played Peter Quill, that the Guardians themselves were a ragtag squad of nobodies. Shots of that first introduction where he pressed play on that Sony Walkman brought back memories of a virtual unknown dancing his way across a disemboweled temple.
There are even clips of Gunn saying he was afraid of what the reaction would be to his first draft of the script, but he felt good about it. “We’re a family, he said. “They’re all people that I want to keep in my life.”
For his part, Marvel Studios president addressed some of the worries MCU fans had about a film featuring virtual unknowns, especially one where there is a talking tree who only says “I am Groot” and a talking raccoon with an itchy trigger finger. “This found family putting trauma behind them to become their best selves,” he said. “There’s something really special about that.”
“To Be a part of something that is so universally beloved, it’s special,” Pratt continued. “It’s hard to even put into words.” There’s a momentary pause where the actor realizes that this is the end for his character, whom he has played for the past nine years and in multiple films.
“I think the Guardians are so imperfect their pasts are not squeaky clean,” Dave Bautista, who plays Drax, said.
Karen Gillan who plays Nebula, Gamora’s adoptive sister, looked back at the casting and was impressed about how perfect it was. “How did they do that,” she asked. “How did they find us all?”
“For each and every one of us to live in the Marvel Universe, it’s been very, very special,” Zoe Saldana said. “Everybody always comes to work with the same level of excitement since day one. We are very much committed to James’ vision. He’s a great captain.” That last bit seemed to hint at what happened to the director when he was unceremoniously fired for having old tweets that were in bad taste.
If anything, Gunn wants to make sure that this is a story he can be happy with now that it has all come to an end. “He really believes in this story,” Saldana continued.
“Being on set with everyone, knowing that there is a finality to the whole experience really made me emotional,” Sean Gunn, James’ brother, who also plays as Kraglin, said.
There is a sense that everyone involved made this with the utmost passion and love for these characters. Most of whom we will never see again considering that James Gunn is done with Marvel Studios and moving on to his next adventure overseeing the new DC Cinematic Universe at Warner Bros.
Pom Klementieff, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot and Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter and Maria Bakalova also star.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” opens in theaters on May 5, 2023.
Here’s the official plot synopsis for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3:”
In Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere. But it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life—a mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
