Without even being released,Guardians of the Galaxy 3is already a complex film with a bittersweet ending. Last we saw our heroes, Thor seemed to be hitching a ride with them to God knows where in the galaxy. Actually, we haven’t even gotten to the beginning ofGuardians 3. Things remain to be seen as the superhero crew will still show up inThor: Love and ThunderandThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Specialahead of the main sequel’s release date in May 2023. So add that to the list of things we don’t know.
What we do know, unfortunately, is that this will be the final film in theGuardiansfranchise. James Gunn notably toldDeadline,
“This is the end for us, the last time people will see this team of Guardians.”
And so, we have a familiar group of lovable heroes left at the end of their journey. But things may not be tied up so neatly. A morally confusing character, Adam Warlock, seems to be on the roster for thisGuardianssequel, and due to his role in the comics, as well as certain past post-credits sequences, it’s tough to be sure whether he will play the hero or villain. Chukwudi Iwuji’s character remains a closely guarded secret. And Peter Quill is still lovelorn but strangely happy after his former lover Gamora was killed by Thanos, then replaced by a younger version of herself from a different timeline. In short, it’s quite the knot to untangle.
Last Film in the Series
Although this may be the final film in the franchise, James Gunn is determined to stand by his work, also telling Deadline, “I just want to be true to the characters, the story and give people the wrap-up that they deserve for the story.” And a character worked inside the mind of James Gunn hasn’t been a disappointment yet. Along with his exciting work inPeacemaker, Gunn is said to be the savior of the DC universe ever since he directedThe Suicide Squad(2021). So if we follow the evidence, audiences can be assured that any James Gunn project will be an enjoyable one. Not to mention, he has a relationship with these characters that goes right back to their first appearance in theMCU.
Related:James Gunn Is Jealous of His Own Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Script
Dave Bautista (Drax) is somewhat saddenedby this end to the series. He was quoted as saying:
“It’s our third film, we’re gonna wrap it up. And it’s been a hell of a journey with a few bumps. So, I’m looking forward to this, man. My cast and obviously the director, James Gunn, they’re like family to me.”
This puts a sweet tone to the end of the series. Of course, Bautista has other projects in the pipeline, including the upcomingDunesequels, but it will be sad to see him go as Drax. Who knows, maybe he will finally understand a metaphor in this final movie.
The Curious Characters
While everyGuardiansmovie has technically been an ensemble movie, the cast has grown since its inception. Nebula (Karen Gillian) is now a concrete part of the team. With Thanos no longer in the picture, she’ll return as an official member of the Guardians, though she’ll likely still be a little rough around the edges. Pom Klementieff will come back as Mantis as well. AndGunn says Mantis and Nebula’s"roles are both pretty huge.” Another thing to look forward to is that Sylvester Stallone said he will reprise his role as the ravager Stakar Ogord.
The arrival of Adam Warlock, played by Will Poulter in this movie, could mean a great number of things. In the comics, Adam is the holder of the Soul Stone, in a similar way that Vision carried the Mind Stone before Thanos took it from him. And while he sometimes holds the title “Avatar of Life,” the character is quite morally neutral. Adam Warlock was created out of a pod by a race of beings called the Enclave. Or, more specifically in the MCU, Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) seems to be the one who will create Warlock out of her desire to kill the Guardians of the Galaxy. But this does not necessarily mean he will be a villain. The first thing he did in the comics was disobey his creators. Adam Warlock is a being born with a massive amount of power and very little life experience, so we’ll see how the Guardians deal with him. But one thing’s for sure; Will Poulter can really show off that hairdo.
Related:James Gunn Confirms Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Timeline…Sort Of
Along with the mystery of Adam Warlock is the one about Chukwudi Iwuji’s role in the movie. Despite his character continuously being teased to us on how powerful and complex it is, we haven’t been given so much as a photo of a costume. Iwuji is best known for working with Gunn while playing Murn onPeacemaker, so it’s likely Gunn thought of him instantly when casting the role, whatever it is. Fans have been guessing characters from the Silver Surfer to the High Evolutionary. Iwuji’s acting career began in Shakespeare, so whoever it is, they’re probably going to be pretty epic.
Zoe Saldana’s Gamora is bound to be interesting as well. As Starlord’s romantic partner, she was killed when Thanos traded her for the Soul Stone. Now a different version of her has jumped timelines and taken the place of the dead Gamora. Saldana admitted in an interview thatGuardians 3will be bittersweet, saying:
“After all those years of complaining about that green make-up, I find myself already nostalgic about it. There’s a lot of melancholy here, but also pride that we’ve achieved something great.”
