Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for Avengers: Infinity War

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James Gunn confirms Groot's final line in Avengers: Infinity War, and it makes the ending even more heartbreaking. After all of these years, Thanos finally made his move and fundamentally altered the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With just the snap of his fingers, the Mad Titan wiped away half of the universe's population. The casualties may go beyond what's revealed in the movie, but the moments that immediately followed the pivotal snap showed several of the MCU's biggest heroes disappearing before the other heroes' very eyes.

Even though Infinity War's deaths aren't necessarily permanent in most instances, the reaction they've caused in the movie helped make it work. Tom Holland's performance in his "death" scene has particularly caught the attention of moviegoers. But thanks to the Guardians of the Galaxy director, Groot's death may actually be the most tragic of them all.

Related: Infinity War Directors Tease Deleted Guardians Scene

An Avengers: Infinity War fan asked James Gunn what Groot's final "I am Groot" line actually meant. Even though audiences never truly know what Groot says in the films, there are versions of the script that show what it properly translates to. As Groot is being whisked away, Rocket approaches him and is on the receiving end of a devastating line: "Dad."

Groot viewing Rocket as his father and then directly referring to him as such completely changes the dynamic of the two characters. While in 2014's Guardians, Groot is Rocket's muscle and protector, but the roles were switched in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Gunn already confirmed that the new version of Groot is a completely different from the character audiences saw in the first movie - and that was evident by how Rocket cared for Groot in the Guardians sequel. But, with the rest of the Guardians helping raise the youngster, the fact that Groot views Rocket as his dad just adds another layer to what they've gone through.

Considering how much of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise has revolved around themes of family, future films are ripe to further explore this relationship. Everyone expects Groot and most of the fellow heroes who disappeared to return, and Chris Pratt's indicated as much in teasing how excited he is for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Assuming they are all brought back from the dead (even Gamora could still be alive through the Soul Stone), then the adolescent form of Groot could be reunited with Rocket. How that father-son dynamic could be explored is up for Gunn to decide. However this influences the future, Groot's final line is sure to only make this particular moment that much more poignant on repeat viewings of Avengers: Infinity War.

More: Why Avengers: Infinity War’s Ending is Difficult to Believe

Source: James Gunn