James Gunn, the director of the two Guardians of the Galaxy films held an Instagram Q&A session on Saturday, and he answered a lot of questions. One of those questions was, “Will Someone die in gotg 3?” Gunn simply replied, “Yes”. Now take into account that there’s death count has never been 0 in an MCU film. So obviously, a side character played by an extra, a nameless bad guy or a civilian would surely end up dying and that’s what Gunn could mean here. But we’re not inclined to believe that this is what he meant. There was a major death in both Guardians movies, and there will be one in Guardians Vol. 3 as well. But who would it be? Our guess goes to Rocket Raccoon.
Groot has already died twice in the MCU. Vol. 1 showed us how Groot sacrificed himself. Then Infinity War turned Groot into dust. So it’s sort of obvious that he isn’t going to die. Yes, turning into dust doesn’t mean that you’re dead as you just ceased to exist. But the MCU played it as if everyone died for 5 years, so we’re going to believe the same. That means, Peter Quill cannot die in Vol. 3, and neither will Drax or Mantis. Gamora died for real in Infinity War so she will survive & probably have her love story play out with Quill. A version of Nebula also died in Endgame, so this time she will also get to play out her sister arc with Gamora. The deal here is to not make the deaths feel repetitive, but rather make them feel meaningful and real. And as of now, James Gunn can only do that with Rocket Raccoon.
Gunn doesn’t have any plans for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4. He always started things off with a trilogy in his mind. And now, the story he has been writing for his characters is going to come to a full circle. Here’s what we predict will happen. As written above, Quill & Gamora will finally get together and Gamora & Nebula will finally get to be sisters. Rumor has it that Drax’s daughter Moon Dragon will show up in Vol. 3, so he will finally get to reunite with a family member. Also, he may end up with Mantis as teased in Vol 2. That leaves us with Groot & Rocket. Groot might end up on his home world, i.e. Planet X. As for Rocket, he is the only one who has looked death in the eyes and come out alive every single time.
Rocket is our favorite Guardian of the Galaxy without a doubt. We’ve seen him transform into someone totally different than what he used to be in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film. From a mean loner who only thought about himself, he learned from others, started caring about people other than himself, and we’ve seen that he is willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. In a fun & weird way, he is a space Raccoon version of Tony Stark.
Before we run a parallel between Tony & Rocket, look at what Yondo said to Tony back in Vol. 2:
“You can fool yourself and everyone else, but you can’t fool me. I know who you are.
I know everything about you. I know you play like you’re the meanest in the heart but actually you’re the most scared of all.
I know you steal batteries you don’t need and you push away anyone who’s willing to put up with you because just a little bit of love reminds you of how big and empty that hole inside you actually is.
I know them scientist what made you never gave a rats ass about you.
Just like my own damn parents who sold me, their own little baby to slavery. I know who you are boy, because you’re me.”
Rocket acts the meanest, but deep down, he is the one who cares the most. That’s how Tony began his journey. Stark is one of the smartest people on Earth, and Rocket is one of the smartest beings in the Galaxy. Rocket was modified by cybernetic parts. Stark had an arc reactor that kept him alive. Stark lost Peter Parker, who was like a son to him. And so, Peter was his major motivation to bring everyone back in Endgame. Rocket lost his son, Groot. And he also lost his family, the people he cared about the most. His motivation was the same as Tony Stark. He wanted to bring Groot & his family back, and that’s why he became an Avenger. Tony’s story was complete in Endgame as his arc came to a full circle, and he went out sacrificing himself for the greater good. That’s where Rocket’s story is headed too.
His story is not yet complete, but it will be in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as we will get to see the villain who created Rocket, i.e. the High Evolutionary. Also, Rocket is said to meet his love interest Lylla. Just like Tony Stark, Rocket’s life will now be complete. The hole in his life will be filled. He will have a complete family with his love interest coming into play. And so, he’d be ready for a big sacrifice like Stark. He’d do that for the Guardians, his son Groot, and his new found love Lylla.
James Gunn loves Rocket Raccoon, and so he will definitely give Rocket the ending he deserves. Here’s what Gunn said about Rocket:
“When you asked me what was saddest for me when I thought it was gone—and anybody at Marvel can tell you—it’s this very strange and attached relationship to Rocket. Rocket is me, he really is, even if that sounds narcissistic. Groot is like my dog. I love Groot in a completely different way. I relate to Rocket and I feel compassion for Rocket, but I also feel like his story has not been completed. He has an arc that started in the first movie, continued into the second and goes through Infinity War and Endgame, and then I was set to really finish that arc in Guardians 3.”
We have to savor what’s left of Rocket’s story. He is the funniest & the most lovable character. He’d play a sizable role in Thor: Love And Thunder. Then Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be a film truly devoted to the Raccoon. Vol. 3 could arrive in May 2023.
