Rocket's GOTG Vol. 3 Story Was In The Works Since Guardians of the Galaxy

James Gunn explains that the Guardians of the Galaxy story has always been leading to Rocket's origin, which is at the heart of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Rocket has been a part of the Guardians of the Galaxy since the beginning and has been a key member throughout their journey. In Avengers: Endgame, he and Nebula are the only two left to help protect the universe and save their friends. Guardians of the Galaxy has been dropping hints about Rocket's past since the beginning, but his origin hasn't been fully explored until now.

Screen Rant spoke with Gunn about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. He revealed that he has known Rocket's backstory since the first Guardians of the Galaxy. Gunn compared it to Star-Lord's father in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which he also plotted out from the first film. Check out Gunn's full quote below:

James Gunn: I think it was just always leading to that. We started out in the first movie, and my way into the first movie was to delve mentally into Rocket's backstory. Where did he come from? He's in the first movie flying around with this tree, and that backstory is the story that we depict in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. I always knew we were going to reveal that as we went along. Just like we revealed [Star-Lord's] father in the second movie, which was also something that was thought of during the first movie.

What We Know About Rocket's Past Before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

high evolutionary experimenting on rocket in guardians of the galaxy vol 3

Gunn has been laying the groundwork for Rocket's origins since the first Guardians of the Galaxy, with his cybernetic implants and scars revealed in prison. Rocket has also shown an exceptional ability to escape captivity and a propensity for invention. However, Rocket struggles to trust others, including the Guardians in the first two installments. With the High Evolutionary as the main villain in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it's clear he is a key part of Rocket's past.

Pieces of Rocket's past have also been revealed, including his friendship with three other High Evolutionary experiments: Lyla, Floor, and Teefs. Although it has always been clear that Rocket's past is tragic, these hints point to his larger arc throughout the Guardians trilogy, including his struggles to trust and connect with others. Rocket is an experiment, but what the goal was for the individual that created him has remained a mystery.

Rocket has never fully dealt with what happened to him, but over time he has become more of a protector and caretaker for Groot, the other Guardians, and the universe. His friendship with Nebula may have grown not only because they were the only two left after Thanos but also because they likely had similar traumas in their pasts. While Peter Quill has outwardly seemed like the hero, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 may change that, showing that the true hero of the trilogy has always been Rocket.