James Gunn Continues To Tease The Fate of Rocket Raccoon in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3
A lot of fans are worried that Rocket Raccoon is going to die to save his friends in The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The footage that has been shared certainly seems to tease a very emotional conclusion. The movie is going to put a focus on Rocket and there’s a scene in the trailer where we see Peter Quill screaming and crying in agony and despair.
In the next chapter of the story, "Our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere, but it isn't long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket's turbulent past. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket's life – a mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them."
That story description makes it sound pretty dire for some of the characters. James Gunn previously talked about Rocket and how that character is the reason why he came back to make this third film. He explained:
"One of the reasons why I came back to [make] this movie was because I felt like I needed to tell Rocket's story. I would've been very sad not to complete the trilogy for many reasons, but I just feel very connected to Rocket. I feel like nobody would be able to tell his full story if it wasn't me.
"To me, Rocket has always been the secret protagonist of the Guardians movies. From the beginning, it has been rooted in who he is as a character. I think he exemplifies a lot of the traits of all the Guardians. They've had all these traumas, and it brings them together. I just think that his is more extreme than others.
"He was just fine being an animal, and he was transformed into something else he didn't want to be. I think that transformation itself was extremely painful, but I also think it made him feel incredibly alienated from everyone else. In Vol. 3, we learn a lot about his past — where he came from, who he is, and what he's been through. It's been a difficult road for the little animal.
Gunn also teased the emotional aspect of the film, saying, "It's pretty heavy actually. It's a heavier story, so it's an emotional process to go through."
The fans always seem to be reaching out to Gunn on social media asking questions and saying weird things. In a recent exchange, James Gunn responded to a couple of comments regarding the possible death of Rocket.
One fan commented on one of Gunn's most recent posts saying they hope that "hope Rocket dies" in the movie. Not sure why anyone would want to wish for Rocket’s death! That’s crazy to me! In response to that, the filmmaker responded with a wide-eyed emoji. Some fans think that Gunn is teasing Rocket’s fate, but I think it’s a way of telling the fan that he’s crazy.
In another comment, a fan stated how pissed off he would be if Rocket dies, saying that the character doesn’t need to be killed off. Gunn responded saying, "No one said he was going to die, but that's not how stories work.”
While it seems like Rocket’s death is obvious, I’m not convinced that he’s going to die. I think that while the film is going to take us on an emotional journey, I just don’t think that Gunn is going to kill off any of these characters. I think all of the teases are misdirection and in the end, all of the Guardians are going to come out of it alive. I’m trying to keep it positive over here! I’m a cup half-full kinda guy.
This is the final film in the franchise! It’s got to close out with a happy ending!
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 stars Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Sean Gunn as Kraglin/on-set Rocket, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, and Vin Diesel as Groot. New additions to the cast also include Will Poulter as Adam Warlock and Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary as well as Daniela Melchior, Nico Santos, and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm's Maria Bakalova as Cosmo the Spacedog.
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens in U.S. theaters on May 5.