The Guardians of the Galaxy could be back sooner than expected in Thor: Love and Thunder, and here’s what their role in Thor’s fourth “solo” adventure could be. The Marvel Cinematic Universe finally brought together all of its superheroes in Avengers: Endgame to go against Thanos and his armies, with their combined efforts resulting in the defeat of the Mad Titan – and Tony Stark’s death, as he sacrificed himself to save the universe. By the end of the film, everyone went on their own ways, with Thor leaving New Asgard and joining the Guardians of the Galaxy, even if just for a ride.

Now, the MCU is preparing for a new wave of films, which will introduce new characters such as the Eternals and Shang-Chi, and continue the stories of other heroes, as is the case of Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Thor, Black Panther, and Captain Marvel. The return of the God of Thunder came as a big surprise to Marvel fans, as he’s the first Avenger (and MCU character, in general) to get four solo films, and it has a lot to thank Thor: Ragnarok for. Titled Thor: Love and Thunder, the film will have Taika Waititi back as director as well as Chris Hemsworth as the Asgardian hero, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster/Lady Thor.

Related: MCU Theory: Disney+ Shows Explain Jane Foster's Return

Thor 4 will focus on Jane’s journey and her taking on the mantle of Thor, as she did in the comics, and will count with Christian Bale as the new villain. Given Thor’s new bond with the Guardians of the Galaxy, which began in Avengers: Infinity War and continued in Endgame, many fans have been wondering if there could be a collaboration between these heroes in the upcoming Thor 4, and it now looks like a big possibility. While promoting his new film, Bloodshot, Vin Diesel revealed that Waititi has talked to him about Thor 4 incorporating some of the Guardians of the Galaxy, and before the mythical Marvel snipers get him, here’s what their role in Thor: Love and Thunder could be.

The Guardians Appear At The Start Of Thor 4

Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor in Endgame

Nebula and Rocket joined Thor and the rest of the surviving heroes in Avengers: Endgame on their mission to find Thanos, get the Stones, and reverse the snap. Sadly, Thanos had already destroyed the Stones to prevent further use, and Thor ended up decapitating him. By the end of the film, and once Thanos and his armies were gone for good, Thor left with the Guardians of the Galaxy, saying that they are now the “Asgardians of the Galaxy” and jokingly arguing with Star-Lord over command of the team. While there are five films coming out before Thor: Love and Thunder, one of them a prequel (Black Widow), there are none which could explore or show what Thor and the Guardians have been up to, so it’s very possible that Thor 4 will open with the God of Thunder traveling with his new friends.

This, however, would be a short appearance, with Thor leaving the team for whatever reason that would then kickstart his story in Thor 4. The Guardians showing up at the beginning feels like the most likely option, and it would give continuity to where Avengers: Endgame left them, while also giving a glimpse at how they get along as a team.

Rocket & Groot Could Decide To Stay With Thor During Love & Thunder

Thor met the Guardians of the Galaxy when he crashed on their spaceship at the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War, following a brutal encounter with Thanos in which many Asgardians were killed, including Heimdall and Loki. After telling the Guardians about Thanos’ plans, they split into two groups, with Peter, Gamora, Drax, and Mantis traveling to Knowhere to stop Thanos from getting the Reality Stone, and Thor, Rocket, and Groot going to Nidavellir, where they built Stormbreaker. The first group ended up in Titan, with Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man, while the others joined the battle in Wakanda.

Related: Predicting Thor's Marvel Movie Future In MCU Phase 4

Thor and Rocket (and Nebula, over at Titan) survived the snap, and five years after Thor killed Thanos, they teamed up with the rest to travel back in time and retrieve the Infinity Stones before Thanos did. Thor and Rocket were sent to Asgard in 2013, where Rocket extracted the Reality Stone from Jane Foster while Thor had a chat with his mother, Frigga (who passed away that year). If there are any Guardians with a connection with Thor are Groot and Rocket, as they have already teamed up and it’s a dynamic that worked well and got a good reception from viewers. Supposing that Star-Lord has different plans for the team, mainly going after Gamora, then Rocket and Groot could go on a different mission with Thor, helping him out with whatever problem is thrown his way in Thor 4. After all, Diesel said that “some Guardians” will appear, and Groot and Rocket are the best options.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Could Appear In Thor 4’s Final Act

If the Guardians do appear at the beginning of Thor 4, with the God of Thunder leaving them to go on a different mission, it doesn’t mean that they can’t return later on in the film. While it’s unknown what kind of dangers Thor will come across with in this new film, he could certainly use the help of his (new) teammates – but because this is a Thor film, they wouldn’t show up until the final act. Of course, it’s also possible that Thor 4 will skip the part where Thor and the Guardians share a ride and will go straight to whatever it needs to kickstart the story, meaning the Guardians would arrive near the end of the film to help him save the day, in a way that will hopefully not feel forced or too deus ex machina.

Given that Jane Foster will become Mighty Thor, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Guardians have some interaction with her or even work with her to stop the villain and everything that comes with him – after all, the Asgardian God won’t be the only hero this time. The possible inclusion of some of the Guardians of the Galaxy in Thor: Love and Thunder is exciting news for Quill and company, as it would expand their role in the MCU and help set up their third adventure, which doesn’t have a projected release date yet. As for Thor, this new film will be a game-changer for him and those close to him, especially Jane Foster.

Next: Doctor Strange 2 vs. Thor 4: What Is The Most Important MCU Phase 4 Movie?

Key Release Dates