James Gunn About Rocket Raccoon and His Importance in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3
The fan-favorite gun-toting smart-mouthed Marvel character Rocket Raccoon is the heart and soul of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. In fact, this character is the reason why James Gunn returned to write and direct the film. In an interview with EW, Gunn 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."
Gunn has said before that Rackett is loosely based on himself. We’ve been hearing for a while that the story for this sequel was going to heavily revolve around Rockett and that was also teased in the trailer that was released. Gunn now offers some insight into the character, saying:
"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."
His goal for this movie is to give Rocket the satisfying story arc he deserves, exploring how the villainous High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) transformed him from an ordinary raccoon to genetically-engineered killing machine. Gunn talked about that:
"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 went on to say that shooting this movie was on o the “hardest thing I've ever done” and says he wanted this movie to be a proper send-off for these characters, for himself, as well as his cast and crew. He said:
"Once I started doing the first Guardians movie, I felt drawn to it. I felt called to it, if that makes any sense. So I feel very good [about Vol. 3] because I feel like I did everything that I possibly could to make this trilogy as good as it can possibly be. And I feel incredibly blessed and fortunate that I had all these people around me making it. It's the biggest blessing of my life."
The story that Gunn came up with left the cast in a flood of tears, so fan better get ready for an emotional ride. In Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 “our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 stars Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, 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.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 arrives in theaters May 5th, 2023.