James Gunn Confirms “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” Ends The Cosmic Saga
When James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 lands in theaters, it’ll mark the end of this current era of Guardians. Gunn confirmed as much to Deadline, revealing that the lovable intergalactic misfits we’ve come to know will have their last adventure together in Vol. 3.
“This is the end for us. This is the last time people will see this team of Guardians,” Gunn told Deadline‘s Hero Nation podcast. “I just want to be true to the characters, and I want to be true to the story and I want to give people the wrap-up that they deserve for the story. So that is always a little bit scary; I’m doing my best.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will complete a saga that Gunn began in 2014 when his first Guardians film ushered in a wild, wackier side to the MCU. Chris Pratt became a big-time star with his turn as Peter Quill/Star-lord, yet the entire cast, including Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Bradley Cooper voicing Rocket the Raccoon, Vin Diesel voicing Groot, Michael Rooker as Yondu, and Karen Gillan as Nebula gave the MCU an intergalactic jolt. This core group of mercurial misfits returned for Vol. 2 in 2017, and you could argue the success of Guardians and its focus on the weirder side of Marvel made room for the likes of Taika Waititi to release his colorful, often hilarious Thor: Ragnarok, changing Chris Hemsworth’s title character from a brooding alien God to a lovable joker (but still a god). It was fitting when Thor took off with the Guardians at the end of Avengers: Endgame, feeling right at home with the rag-tag group of aliens.
When we last saw them, Peter Quill had faced off against his egomaniac father, Ego (Kurt Russell), a living planet. Vol. 2 also saw the loss of Quill’s mentor and father figure, Yondu. In Vol. 3, the Guardians will be facing their most potent challenge yet in the form of Adam Warlock, played by newcomer Will Poulter.
“It’s big; it’s so, so big and dark, and different from what people might be expecting it to be,” Gunn told Deadline. “I’m aware that the third film in most trilogies sucks; not always.”
The end of this particular cosmic road arrives in theaters in May 2023. Yet before that, Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will appear on Disney+ in December, 2022, offering a chance to start to say your goodbyes.
For more on Guardians of the Galaxy, check out these stories:
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” Has Begun Filming & Adam Warlock Has Arrived
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” Has Not Quite Begun Filming (But Will Soon!)
Will Poulter Joins “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” As Adam Warlock
Featured image: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2..L to R: Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Star-Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista) and Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) . Ph: Film Frame. ©Marvel Studios 2017
