Writer/director James Gunn shares Disney’s unveiling of a statue of Guardians of the Galaxy’s Rocket Raccoon and Groot at Epcot. Fresh off DC’s The Suicide Squad and HBO Max’s Peacemaker spinoff, Gunn is set to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and the third (and final) installment in his MCU franchise. Disney/Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy and its follow-up are some of the most entertaining films in the MCU thanks to its eponymous group of misfits: Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel).

While every member of the Guardians adds to the groups’ dynamic, the two mismatched bounty hunters are an iconic pairing all their own. In the comics and first film, the trash-talking, genetically engineered Raccoon and laid-back sentient tree are comparable to bickering brothers—a bond strengthened by Rocket’s ability to understand Groot and his limited vernacular. After the original Groot sacrifices himself in Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket and the other Guardians become a father figure to the reincarnated Baby, and then teenaged Groot. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, instead of Rocket perched on Groot’s shoulder, it’s Baby Groot upon Rocket.

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As Walt Disney World celebrates its 50th Anniversary this weekend, a statue of Rocket and Groot was unveiled at Epcot this morning and Gunn took to Instagram to share a photo of the bronze statue. In addition to said statue, the Guardians are also getting their own Tower of Terror-esque roller coaster in Florida. Check out the larger than life statue of Rocket and Groot below:

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For Marvel fans, it’s nice to see beloved characters immortalized off-screen—especially considering the fact Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has been teased by all involved as uber emotional and will likely feature a major death. Reports point to an exploration of Rocket’s backstory as Gunn’s final film in the franchise aims to wrap up the arcs of its major characters. The last we saw of Rocket in Avengers: Endgame, he had just been reunited with Groot and his surrogate family after five years before leaving Earth with Star-Lord, Drax, Nebula, Mantis, and Thor.

All of the aforementioned characters will appear in Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder and then the next Guardians of the Galaxy film. It’s unclear how much time will have passed between Endgame and the former, but Groot is expected to be fully grown in Vol. 3 and even bigger than the original Groot. Even if audiences do have to say goodbye to Rocket or Groot in the finale, at least they’ll more than likely get one final shot of Rocket firing rounds off Groot’s shoulder. Disney might need to make another statue.

More: Why Rocket Lets Star-Lord Be Guardians Captain In Endgame, But Not Infinity War

Source: James Gunn