The sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy and the first of three films from Marvel set to release in 2017 begins production in a matter of weeks. Writer and director James Gunn returns alongside the entire cast of cosmic characters for the followup which shoots at Pinewood's newest studio in Atlanta (where Ant-Man and Captain America: Civil War were made as well).
Gunn has been there for months already prepping Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and promises it will be more emotional and feature fewer characters overall in an effort to spend more screen time with familiar faces so viewers can get to know them better. Central to this "story about fathers" will of course be half-human, half-unknown protagonist Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) whose identity has been the subject of much speculation since the first film's debut.
We may not know who this character is outside of it being someone different than in Marvel Comics, but it won't be long until we find out who's playing Star-Lord's dad since he's already been cast! Before we delve into that, the cast assembled this week to begin rehearsals and script reading sessions - a screenplay Gunn spend a full year working on.
Even MORE excited for #GotGVol2 after our table read yesterday. Our returning cast is even better & our new cast is amazing.— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 27, 2016
Finally made it to Atlanta to start tormenting those Guardians of the Galaxy.— Karen Gillan (@karengillan) January 26, 2016
Rehearsals for #GotGVol2 with @thejudgegunn, @michael_rooker, & #vonspears. A photo posted by James Gunn (@jamesgunn) on
Reports over the last few months revealed that Matthew McConaughey turned down the role of the sequel’s villain and that James Gunn and Marvel wanted Kurt Russell to play the father. Perhaps that's already happened, since all of these roles have been cast, including the main villain and Star-Lord'd father:
Yes. https://t.co/PSGfv90Ofr— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 29, 2016
Rumors this week point towards the possibility that Guardians of the Galaxy 2 could include an appearance of Ego the living planet and that it'll add three characters to the titular team's roster.
The biggest question on our mind though is whether or not the villain and Star-Lord's dad are one and the same. Given that it's an emotional story about fathers, and that there won't be many characters, perhaps that's the most interesting way of exploring that relationship. And after all, he's a “jackass” according to Yondu (Michael Rooker). As for who it is, Gunn has yet to specify whether the "angelic" character from an ancient alien race is an original character or some other cosmic being from the comics but we suspect it needs to be the latter. For more on who Star-Lord's father is rumored to be, click here (spoiler warning!).
Other reveals from Gunn during a Twitter Q&A yesterday include his heavy involvement with discussions about Avengers: Infinity War, admitting that "we talk all the time about it." The two-part epic, to be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, already has its story treatments submitted and its first installment being scripted by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
- "As I’ve said a million times before Marvel hasn’t given me a single non-budgetary restriction on Vol. 2. I love them"
- Gunn has no interest in directing Captain Marvel or Inhumans but would potentially do another Marvel property (we're thinking Guardians spinoff down the road since he's alluded to it before).
- Jokes that a title he suggested for the sequel was "Guardians of the Galaxy: Another Movie with Them"
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2's post-credits scene is already scripted.
Share your thoughts and theories in the comments!
Next: Guardians of the Galaxy 3 & Other Phase 4 Movies
James Gunn is writing and directing the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel which stars Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, Benicio del Toro, Pom Klementieff, and the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.
Captain America: Civil War will release on May 6, 2016, followed by Doctor Strange – November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man – July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; Black Panther – February 16, 2018; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel – March 8, 2019; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 – May 3, 2019; Inhumans – July 12, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on May 1, July 10 and November 6, 2020.
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