As you are probably aware, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is awaiting release this May. The long-awaited threequel to James Gunn’s space-cosmic adventure set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe will feature the eponymous team confronting their biggest adversary as they set out on a final quest together. Gunn has confirmed that Vol. 3 will be his last film in the series, rounding out the trilogy within the MCU. The film will further mark the final collaborative appearance of the team, meaning the team shall see some changes in the future in the franchise. For the cast, who have worked together on several projects for the MCU in the past decade, the ending must have been an emotional one.
Chris Pratt has recently spoken about his experience in filming for GOTG Vol. 3 (in an interview to ComicBook.com), during which he talked about slowly accepting the final wrap on the team’s story. He reflected on coming upon this job the first time, which became a breakthrough role for Pratt, and expressed gratitude to James Gunn for giving him a chance at it.
“It was really emotional for so many reasons that it would take too long in this interview to even get into. But it just was emotional. It was a lot of gratitude around the fact that James Gunn actually directed it and was able to do that. Just grateful that he even gave me the job, to begin with.”
He further addressed the surrealism of making Guardians of the Galaxy a prominent name in the MCU, especially when many critics were unsure about the adaptation of one of the least performing publications from Marvel Comics.
“It felt gratifying, knowing that critics had said that it would likely be the first Marvel movie to bomb. And what was that gonna be like, to be the first Marvel movie to not be successful? To take these characters that no one knew, and now have them be household names, and to be part of that, and to have rides around the world.”
He further addressed the team’s emotional goodbye given their story ends here, what with James Gunn leaving Marvel to take over DC Studios and Dave Bautista bidding farewell to Drax. The film also might retire other characters, giving them a final send-off before the Guardians move further in a different direction.
“It’s been an incredible ten years. So to wrap it up in this way, it’s, it’s a little bit like your last day of school when you’re a senior. You’re so excited that it’s over, but at the same time, you don’t know if you’re going to see any of your friends ever again. Some of them are going off to college, and some of them are leaving, and some are going in the Army. It’s like entering a new phase, and a new chapter of your life. It’s the turning of a page. So it’s exciting, but it’s emotional.”
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will pit the team against High Evolutionary and his mad agenda to convert every being into something superior. The team will also face Adam Warlock, an artificial being used as a weapon by the Sovereign against the Guardians after their altercation in Vol. 2. And as the team goes through these confrontations, there will be revisiting to the past while laying down crumbs for their futures. As emotional as it would be, as Pratt said, it will be equally enthralling to see Guardians in action again.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be released on May 5, 2023, as part of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.