Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Trailer's "We Are Groot" Hints At Dark Ending

The first trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was released on December 1, 2022, teasing perhaps the most emotional journey for the Guardians and a return of the famous "we are Groot" moment from Guardians of the Galaxy. As part of the MCU's Phase 5, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set to be James Gunn's final outing with his space-faring team, and the director has already hinted that the Guardians team will change forever, potentially hinting at one or more major deaths. The trailer gave audiences their first look at the Guardians in the wake of the tragic events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Despite last being seen in their cheerful Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, the Guardians' next adventure in the MCU is being set up to be their most heart-breaking project yet. Family has always been a key theme for the Guardians of the Galaxy films, and there's no doubt that this will continue into Vol. 3, with Groot himself calling back to the original film with a repeat of his "we are Groot" exclamation, last heard while Groot was sacrificing his own life to save his family. This line resurfacing seems to suggest a dark and equally sacrificial ending for the upcoming film, which could significantly change the landscape of the MCU.

What Guardians Of The Galaxy 3's "We Are Groot" Line Means

In Guardians of the Galaxy, Groot's adaptation of "I am Groot" helps to solidify the brand-new Guardians as a family, especially since one of their members was willing to sacrifice himself to save his friends. In the GOTG Vol. 3 trailer, Groot screams "we are Groot" during a snippet showing him and Peter shooting back-to-back. This poses a tragic turn of events, as it certainly feels like someone might have just died, with many speculating that Rocket will meet his unfortunate end. Groot's repetition of his famous line brings home the idea that the Guardians are a family, and are perhaps willing to sacrifice themselves to save others.

Who Will Likely Die In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

James Gunn has confirmed that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be very focused on Rocket, exploring the character's backstory and origins, with the trailer revealing that viewers will see him through various stages of his life. This has led many to believe that this will be Rocket's final battle in the MCU, especially since Gunn has claimed that Rocket is his favorite character of any he's worked with and wanted to tell his story through to the end. As well as Rocket, it would certainly be an emotional gut-punch if Mantis was to die, especially after The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special confirmed that she's Peter's biological sister.

Drax the Destroyer is also a fan-favorite to meet his end during the upcoming GOTG Vol. 3, with many hoping that he'll finally see a happy ending in the film after speaking a lot about the pain of losing his wife and daughter. James Gunn confirmed early on that the shape of the Guardians of the Galaxy would change forever after the third installment, though it can be assumed that newer characters such as Kraglin, Cosmo the Spacedog, and even the 2014 version of Gamora will be safe. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set to release on May 5, 2023, so theories will certainly continue to rise before then.

Next: Marvel's GOTG Special Proves The Team Will Continue Without James Gunn