Marvel‘s Guardians of the Galaxy defied all box office expectations, established Chris Pratt as one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, and epitomized the term “Space Cowboy”. In 2014, Marvel confirmed that a sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy was in development, so here’s everything you need to know about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
1. It’s a story about fathers
Writer and director James Gunn has stated that the sequel will explore the mystery of Peter Quill’s father. “It’s going to be exciting. I think it’s a more emotional movie,” Gunn told Collider, “I think it’s both a bigger movie and a smaller movie because we focus more intensely on some of the characters. We get to learn a lot about fathers in the second movie.”
However, Gunn has also made it clear that Quill’s father would not be J’son of Spartax like in the comics and wouldn’t actually be a major comic book character at all.
There is no J’Son in the MCU (unless, in the future, that’s the name Moon Kinght’s stoner neighbor gives himself) https://t.co/8hGdNP1NlS
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 17, 2016
2. It made Chris Pratt cry
There’s a popular internet rumor that Chris Pratt cried after he read the script for Vol. 2. However, Pratt later clarified for MTV News, “There’s this thing going around about how I cried after reading the draft… the truth is I cried just after hearing the pitch.”
3. Baby Groot will return
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, and Sean Gunn will all reprise their roles from the first film (busy year for Sean Gunn with his return to Stars Hollow as well).
Official Photography on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has begun. You’re very welcome. pic.twitter.com/741upZ21g7
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 17, 2016
Based on Gunn’s tweet we also know that the movie will feature baby Groot so hopefully we get more adorable dance scenes.
4. The universe is adding an Academy Award winner
“One of the main things with Guardians of the Galaxy is not to add a bunch of characters, not to make it bigger in that way but to go deeper with the characters,” Gunn told Screenrant, “and getting to know them more emotionally.”
However, that doesn’t mean the film will exclude new characters altogether. Gunn recently confirmed that Vol. 2 will include Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Pom Klementieff (who will be playing Mantis), and Kurt Russell (who will likely play Quill’s father).
. @PomKlementieff is playing Mantis. As for the rest, you’ll have to wait. https://t.co/NG7ZYGj0YS
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 17, 2016
According to Daily News, Academy Award winner Sylvester Stallone was recently spotted heading to the set for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 holding a copy of the film’s script. Heroic Hollywood later revealed that Stallone would be playing one of Yondu’s Ravagers.
Gunn said he hoped to add additional heroes, but later changed his mind because he wanted to keep Quill as the only Terran, “I don’t want Nova right now because I think Quill being the only earthling is important,” Gunn explained, “That serves the entire movie going audience and not just the handful of Nova fans.”
5. The door is open for an Avengers crossover
Gunn told MTV that he doesn’t feel restrained by the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, Gunn has not ruled out the possibility of an Avengers crossover, “We talked about all sorts of possibilities [for a crossover] and I kind of know what the basic plan is. It could always change at any minute. That could or could not include a couple of Avengers and a couple of Guardians meeting up, or all of the Avengers and all of the Guardians. But, we do inhabit the same universe and they’re pretty big personalities that are likely to, at some point or another, run into each other.”
6. The soundtrack is “better” than the original
While there’s no real news on the soundtrack (let’s be real, that’s what we’re all looking forward to), Gunn has stated that all of the songs for Awesome Mix Vol. 2 have been written into the script. In April 2015, Gunn admitted he felt “a little pressure for the soundtrack because so many people loved [the first film’s soundtrack] and we went platinum and all that other stuff. But I feel like the soundtrack in the second one is better.”
7. The movie almost featured a David Bowie cameo
After David Bowie‘s death, Gunn revealed that he had discussed a possible cameo with the musician. Bowie’s Moonage Daydream appeared on the soundtrack for the original film and Gunn has stated that he hopes to feature another song from Ziggy Stardust in Vol 2 as a way to honor the late artist, “I always thought the album’s character was felt far beyond that, in the aesthetics, in the integral and seemingly-natural linking in popular culture of ’70’s rock and space opera.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is scheduled to hit theaters May 5, 2017.
