8 Exciting Guardians Of The Galaxy Spinoffs We Desire Following James Gunn’s Recent Comments

James Gunn recently disclosed that several exciting Guardians of the Galaxy spinoff projects were in the works for the MCU before his exit. The filmmaker, who first joined the MCU with 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy during Phase 2, directed two more films and created a Special Presentation for Marvel. Gunn’s transition to co-CEO of DC Studios raised questions about the future of the Guardians franchise, which stands as one of the MCU’s most successful series. Nonetheless, there’s potential for these planned spinoffs to see the light of day.

1 Groot & Rocket’s Untold Origin Story

Exploring Groot and Rocket’s Background

In the Guardians of the Galaxy films, Rocket Raccoon and Groot, voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel respectively, are shown as already established partners. Although Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 delved into Rocket’s backstory, the early days of their relationship and adventures remain unexplored on screen. Gunn mentioned on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast that revealing how Rocket and Groot met was originally intended for the third installment, although Marvel Studios ultimately opted for a different narrative approach.

In a discussion on Threads, Gunn hinted that their origin story has been storyboarded, envisioning a scenario where a young Rocket escapes captivity with Groot through a weapon he creates from a captured robotic entity. This gripping narrative could provide a fresh angle for future Marvel projects, especially following the poignant focus on Rocket’s origins in the latest film.

2 Adam Warlock’s Promising Introduction

Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock in the Spotlight

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marks the live-action debut of Adam Warlock, portrayed by Will Poulter. This character, known for his immense cosmic abilities, presents exciting possibilities for future MCU narratives. His character showcases a childlike demeanor, which could evolve into a central heroic figure. However, the MCU has yet to confirm his return in forthcoming projects, leaving fans with much anticipation.

New Guardians Member	Actor
Rocket Raccoon (Captain)	Bradley Cooper (Voice)
Big	Vin Diesel (Voice)
Kraglin Obfonteri	Sean Gunn
Cosmo the Spacedog	Maria Bakalova (Voice)
Adam Warlock	Will Poulter
Phyla	Kai Zen
Blur	Dee Bradley Baker (Voice)

A dedicated project focusing on Adam Warlock’s adventures—whether set before or after his affiliation with the Guardians—could extensively develop his character. Audiences may witness his journey to master his powers and confront his origins, connecting him to the High Evolutionary and higher stakes within the cosmic landscape.

3 Nebula & Drax: Leaders of a New Society

Knowhere’s Role in the New Guardians

As the original Guardians team splintered at the conclusion of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Nebula and Drax took on pivotal leadership roles in Knowhere, assisting in building a sanctuary for the refugees liberated from the High Evolutionary. This represents significant character growth for Nebula, who transitions from antagonist to community leader, while Drax embraces his paternal instincts once more.

With a fresh array of beings in Knowhere—now the Guardians’ operational base—Marvel can explore myriad storylines within this vibrant community. A project centered on Drax and Nebula’s leadership or daily challenges in this new environment could lead to a unique Disney+ series, potentially evolving the High Evolutionary into a recurring foe.

4 Gamora’s Journey with the Ravagers

Gamora’s Variant Integrates into the Ravagers

I always thought the Ravagers would be a great show. Whether that was with Sly Stallone’s Ravagers or even more in-depth with just the pirates and what they were doing. I told Kevin Feige that when he first visited set when we were on the Ravagers ship for Guardians 1, I said, ‘We should make a Ravagers show.’ He said, ‘If this movie’s a hit you can do whatever you want.’ Still no Ravagers show, so I don’t know what happened.

The post-credit scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hinted at the deeper stories of the Ravager team, featuring characters like Stakar Ogord and Martinex, who reappeared as Gamora’s companions in Vol. 3. Although Zoe Saldaña indicated she may not return as Gamora, she expressed interest in seeing a new actress take on the role, lending credence to the establishment of a potential Ravagers-focused series delving into their escapades.

5 Mantis’ Solo Adventure

Mantis’ Shift After Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

After the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Mantis, portrayed by Pom Klementieff, took a courageous step by leaving the team to embark on a personal journey of self-discovery. This new direction could serve as the foundation for a spinoff that sees Mantis exploring her identity apart from the Guardians and the influence of Ego.

There’s speculation that future Mantis narratives might incorporate elements from her Celestial Madonna storyline from Marvel Comics, building her into a key figure within the MCU. Given her role in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, it would be thrilling to see Mantis fully developed as a standalone hero.

6 The High Evolutionary: A New Threat

Chukwudi Iwuji’s Complex Character

Introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the High Evolutionary, played by Chukwudi Iwuji, emerged as a formidable adversary with a rich and unexplored backstory. His character, an alien with a checkered past that extends to Earth, presents numerous opportunities for Marvel to delve into his history and motivation, significantly impacting the wider MCU narrative.

In the comics, the High Evolutionary has been deeply involved with the origins of iconic characters, including Adam Warlock and the Fantastic Four. With the confirmation of the High Evolutionary’s survival post-Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, he is poised for a powerful comeback and a potential spinoff that could explore these connections further.

7 The Prospect of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4

Setting the Stage for Another Sequel

One of the most anticipated outcomes following Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the development of a fourth installment in the franchise. James Gunn has indicated that future films may not necessarily continue the Vol. 4 title, but setting up a new Guardians lineup—featuring Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam, Phyla, and Blurp—suggests the possibility of continuing their story.

Given the Guardians of the Galaxy’s immense success within the MCU, it would be a missed opportunity to disregard this franchise purely due to Gunn’s transition to DC. The continuation of their saga remains highly anticipated and could bring fresh narratives for fans to explore.

8 The Return of Legendary Star-Lord

Hints at Chris Pratt’s Future in the MCU

The potential for a dedicated spinoff featuring Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, also known as Legendary Star-Lord, has been teased by Marvel Studios. Quill’s character in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hints at a future return, though details remain scarce regarding his next adventure.

Peter Quill’s MCU Projects	Year
Guardians of the Galaxy	2014
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2	2017
Avengers: Infinity War	2018
Avengers: Endgame	2019
Thor: Love and Thunder	2022
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special	2022
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3	2023

With Peter Quill returning to Earth to reconnect with family, it’s likely that his new living situation will lead to interactions with other MCU heroes, paving the way for future adventures. It would be remarkable to see Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord evolve into a different kind of hero grounded in Earth’s challenges while navigating freshly forged paths in the MCU.

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