Phase 5 of the MCU is now fully upon us, and bye and bye. Perhaps most interesting is the launch of writer-director James Gunn — and the current cast of Guardians including Chris Pratt et al — in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Now that Gunn is the head of DC Studios and hard at work on his new universe, it looks like his fourth outing (including his merry Christmas special) will be a swan song for the original roster.
But, what should we as viewers expect from Gunn and co if this is the climax of Guardians of the Galaxy, and what does it mean moving forward?
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Fear not, because here’s everything you need to know about Star-Lord and co and their latest adventure.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 release date
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will hit our screens on May 5, 2023, reuniting the cast with James Gunn as director and writer after his controversial firing due to offensive tweets and his hasty rehiring.
It’s been a long road since he went on to direct The Suicide Squad for DC and then gave us The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
Although there is no official word on the film’s running time, James Gunn has gone on record as saying that it will be longer than the previous two films which clocked in at 2 hours, 2 minutes and 2 hours, 17 minutes respectively. This makes sense as both Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania had longer running times than their predecessors.
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With this many characters to juggle and some at the end of the road it’s no wonder Gunn is opting for an epic runtime.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 were thrown
Well, since this is the end of the line you’d expect the old gang to be. Chris Pratt is returning to the team as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, along with Karen Gillan’s Nebula, Dave Bautista’s Drax the Destroyer, Pom Klementieff as Mantis as well as Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel voicing Rocket Raccoon and Groot respectively.
Also back is Zoe Saldaña as Gamora, this 2014 version is an incarnation brought forward during the events of Avengers: Endgame and without the long history and romance shared with Quill.
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Gunn also plans to bring back characters teased in previous outings such as Elizabeth Debicki as High Priestess Ayesha of Heaven, Sean Gunn as Ravager commander Kraglin, Sylvester Stallone as Ravager Stakar Ogord. Explored in Volume 2, we also see Michael Rosenbaum as Martinex.
Academy Award nominee Maria Bakalova reprises her role from the Holiday Special as Cosmo the Spacedog, a new member of the Guardians who speaks through a translator device.
New additions include actor Will Poulter as the newly created artificial weapon Adam Warlock who will cause trouble for the Guardians and Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary, a character related to Rocket’s past.
Superstore’s Nico Santos and Suicide Squad’s Daniela Melchoir also star in undisclosed roles.
What is the plot of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?
The official plot summary is that the Guardians of the Galaxy, after purchasing Knowhere from The Collector, attempt to make it a safe haven for alien refugees. But after a brutal attack, Peter Quill must lead the Guardians on one last mission to protect one of their members who could disband the team.
Apart from this bit it is known that Gunn has explored Rocket’s past, and a more emotional arc for the grizzled Rocket while following threads left by previous Marvel projects. Who will be left, and who will go on to face Kang in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty only Gunn knows.
Is there a trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?
The first trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in December, 2022. Watch it above.
Striking a more ominous tone than previous Guardians of the Galaxy trailers and scored by a dramatic, slowed-down version of Spacehog’s 1995 hit In The Meanwhile, the teaser hints at the end of the team of A-holes we know and love. .
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The second trailer revealing Will Poulter as Adam Warlock, and Star-Lord’s attempts to lure Gamora back is also playing in cinemas.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is in cinemas and IMAX from May 5, 2023
Watch: Kurt Russell talks to Yahoo about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2