Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Lore & Background

James Gunn had initial ideas for a third and final Guardians of the Galaxy film by November 2014, and in April 2017, he announced his return to write and direct ahead of Vol. 2's release. Disney fired Gunn from Vol. 3 in July 2018 after controversial jokes he made on Twitter resurfaced, but the studio reversed course by that October after support from several cast members. His return was publicly revealed in March 2019, and he restarted work after completing The Suicide Squad (2021) and the first season of Peacemaker (2022) for DC Films. New cast members, including Chukwudi Iwuji and Will Poulter, joined by the start of filming, which took place at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, from November 2021 to May 2022.

The film premiered at Disneyland Paris on April 22, 2023, and was released in the United States on May 5. It grossed over $845.6 million worldwide, becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2023. At the 96th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Best Visual Effects. The plot involves the Guardians traveling to Orgocorp headquarters and Counter-Earth to find an override code to save Rocket, who recalls his past as a test subject of the High Evolutionary. The film features an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Linda Cardellini, Nathan Fillion, and Sylvester Stallone.

Reader's Guide

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 serves as the conclusion to the Guardians trilogy within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Its significance lies in its exploration of Rocket's origin story, a character with whom James Gunn personally identifies, and its resolution of character arcs for the team. The film was a critical and commercial success, with many critics deeming it a satisfactory conclusion. It also marked the final portrayal of Gamora by Zoe Saldaña and Drax the Destroyer by Dave Bautista, as both actors stated this would be their last time playing these roles. The film's legacy includes its Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects and its role in Phase Five of the MCU, setting up a new Guardians team led by Rocket.

Did You Know?

• James Gunn was fired from the film in July 2018 after controversial jokes on Twitter resurfaced, but was rehired by October 2018.
• The film explores the origin story of Rocket, with whom James Gunn personally identifies.
• The film was nominated for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards.

Rocket's Origin and the Heart of the Trilogy

The film's emotional spine is Rocket's origin story. As a baby raccoon, he was captured and subjected to experiments by the High Evolutionary, an alien scientist who sought to enhance and anthropomorphize animal lifeforms into "Humanimals" for his ideal society called Counter-Earth. Rocket was part of Batch 89 alongside the otter Lylla, walrus Teefs, and rabbit Floor. His intellectual insights were harvested to improve subsequent batches, yet the High Evolutionary resented that one of his creations could solve problems he himself could not. When the scientist planned to harvest Rocket's brain and incinerate the entire batch, Rocket attempted to save his friends. Lylla was killed, and during the chaos, henchmen killed Teefs and Floor. Rocket fought back, killed his captors, and escaped in a spaceship. This traumatic past is triggered in the present when a kill switch embedded by Orgocorp renders their med-packs useless, forcing the team to race against time to find the override code and save his life.

Gunn's Rocky Road to the Director's Chair

James Gunn had conceived the idea for a third and final Guardians film as early as November 2014, and by April 2017 he publicly announced his return to write and direct before the second installment even hit theaters. That plan was derailed in July 2018 when Disney terminated his involvement after old controversial Twitter jokes resurfaced. Several cast members rallied behind him, and by October the studio reversed its decision. Gunn's return was officially confirmed in March 2019, but he did not immediately resume work on the project. Instead, he spent the intervening years completing The Suicide Squad (2021) and the first season of its spin-off Peacemaker (2022) for DC Films. Only after those obligations concluded did he restart development on the Guardians sequel. New cast members, including Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary and Will Poulter, were brought aboard by the time principal photography began at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, running from November 2021 through May 2022.

A Satisfying Send-Off at the Box Office and Beyond

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 had its world premiere at Disneyland Paris on April 22, 2023, before opening in United States theaters on May 5 as part of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film was the 32nd entry in the MCU franchise. It achieved both critical and commercial success, with numerous reviewers calling it a fitting and satisfying conclusion to the three-film trilogy. At the box office, it collected over $845.6 million worldwide, securing its position as the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2023. On the awards front, the film earned a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards, a recognition that underscored the scale of its practical and digital creature work. The film was produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, maintaining the same studio partnership that had carried the franchise since its 2014 debut.

An Ensemble Cast and Divergent Character Endings

The film features a large ensemble cast including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Linda Cardellini, Nathan Fillion, and Sylvester Stallone. The story weaves multiple character arcs that reach distinct conclusions. Peter Quill decides to leave the Guardians, names Rocket as the new captain, and returns to Earth to reunite with his grandfather Jason. Mantis sets off on a journey of self-discovery alongside three monstrous Abilisks she befriends. Gamora, an alternate version who has joined the Ravagers, ultimately returns to that group. Nebula and Drax stay on Knowhere to raise the rescued genetically modified humanoid children. The narrative also introduces new antagonists and allies, including Adam Warlock, created by High Priestess Ayesha of the Sovereign, and the High Evolutionary's Hellspawn guards. An alternate Gamora helps the team infiltrate Orgocorp, while Kraglin and Cosmo contribute their own unique skills during the climactic rescue operation on Counter-Earth.