James Gunn has recently revealed that there were severalGuardians of the Galaxyspinoffs planned for theMCUprior to his departure, and it’s possible these, and others, could still be produced by Marvel Studios. Filmmaker James Gunn joined the MCU to write and direct 2014’sGuardians of the Galaxyin Phase 2, and produced two more feature films and a Special Presentation for Marvel before departing to become co-CEO of the new DC Studios. TheGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise is one of the MCU’s strongest, and it could continue in some exciting spinoffs.
In a recent conversation with Josh Horowitz on theHappy, Sad, Confusedpodcast, James Gunn revealed more about his plans with Marvel Studios before his controversial firing in 2018.James Gunn confirmed that there had been plans for spinoffs focused on the Ravagers, Rocket and Groot, and Chris Pratt’s Legendary Star-Lord. While Gunn’s departure from Marvel Studios may have doomed theseplannedGuardians of the Galaxyspinoffs, it’s possible they can still be developed without him, and several other MCU spinoffs may have also been perfectly set-up.
8Groot & Rocket’s Origin Story
Groot & Rocket’s Origin Wasn’t Explored In The MCU
Guardians of the Galaxyintroduced Bradley Cooper’s Rocket Raccoon and Vin Diesel’s Groot already deep into their partnership. While 2023’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3explored some of Rocket’s backstory, his and Groot’s first meeting and their early adventures before founding the Guardians of the Galaxy team have never been shown on-screen.James Gunn revealed on theHappy, Sad, Confusedpodcast that showing Groot and Rocket’s meeting was the original plan forGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and while Marvel Studios urged this to be changed, this origin story could still be explored.
In an exchange onThreadsin July 2023, shortly after the premiere ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn confirmed thatRocket and Groot’s origin storyhas already been storyboarded. It’s possible Marvel Studios could adapt it for the MCU, showing ayoung Rocket imprisoned with Groot and the robotic Tibius Lark in a deep well, with Rocket and Groot escaping thanks to the former’s creation of a weapon from Lark’s body. This would be a fantastic story to explore afterGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3put so much focus on Rocket’s history.
7Adam Warlock
Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock Debuted In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3finally introduced Adam Warlock, one of Marvel’s most powerful cosmic superheroes, into live-action, with Will Poulter debuting as a child-like version of the god-like character.Adam Warlock’s debut in the MCU, particularly this younger version, creates some exciting opportunities for the franchise’s future, as Adam could become one of Marvel’s central heroes. That is, of course, should he be confirmed to be returning afterVol. 3, which neither Marvel Studios nor Will Poulter has yet announced.
Blurp
Dee Bradley Baker (Voice)
It would be great for a future MCU project to focus on Adam Warlock, whether that be as a separate story to his current career as a member of thenew Guardians of the Galaxy team, or in a prequel explaining more about his birth and actions before meeting the Guardians. The former seems more likely, as this creates the chance for Marvel to focus on a more heroic Adam Warlock.This could see him learning how to control his incomprehensible gifts, and coming to terms with his origin as a product of the High Evolutionary and the Sovereign.
Knowhere Is The Guardians Of The Galaxy’s Headquarters
At theend ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the original Guardians team members went their separate ways, setting up a number of enticing spinoffs. While Rocket and Groot remained on the team, with the former being promoted to Captain,Nebula and Drax decided to stay on Knowhere to help build and lead the new society formed from the saved refugees and creatures from the High Evolutionary’s laboratory. This was a beautiful development in Nebula’s MCU story, as she completed her transition from villain to hero, and Drax was able to fill his father-figure role again.
The MCU Has Never Been Closer To Solving A 10 Year Old Guardians Of The Galaxy Mystery
An unexpected new Marvel project sets the MCU up for a perfect explanation for one of their universe’s longest-running and strangest mysteries.
With so many new beings and creatures now residing on Knowhere, which also functions as the Guardians of the Galaxy’s own headquarters, there are huge opportunities for stories set there in the MCU’s future.Nebula and Drax leading a new society, or another story set in this new community, would be amazing to see in live-action, perhaps as a more grounded Disney+ series. This could even center aroundChukwudi Iwuji’s High Evolutionary, who was detained on Knowhere after the events ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, allowing this exciting villain to return to the MCU.
5Gamora & The Ravagers
Gamora’s Variant Joined The Ravagers After Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgamesomewhat reversed Gamora’s tragic end inInfinity Warby bringing her 2014 variant into the MCU’s present day and allowing her to survive Iron Man’s snap during the Battle of Earth.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3revealed that, instead of rejoining her Guardians teammates, the earlier version ofGamora joined the Ravagers.James Gunn has already confirmed that a Ravagers-focused project was planned before his departure from Marvel Studios(viaComicBookMovie), so it’s possible this story could still be the focus of a new spinoff.
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.
One ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’send-credits scenes teased the exploration of a Ravager team comprising Stakar Ogord, Martinex, Charlie-27, Aleta Ogord, Krugarr and Mainframe, inspired by Marvel Comics' original Guardians of the Galaxy team from the 1960s. Several of these characters returned as Gamora’s new family inVol. 3, so it would be great to see their story and their relationship toZoe Saldaña’s Gamorabe explored further. Saldaña has noted that she likely won’t return as Gamora, but has expressed her desire to see a new actor assume the role.
4Mantis’ New Adventure
Mantis Is On Her Own After Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
Nebula and Drax were not the only members of the original Guardians of the Galaxy to leave the team at the end ofVol. 3, butPom Klemetieff’s Mantisalso decided to depart. Instead of staying on Knowhere, however,Mantis chose to leave completely, setting out on new adventures by herself, away from the influence of Ego and outside the Guardians of the Galaxy support network. Mantis' mission of self-discovery is brave and exciting, and the perfect set-up for a spinoff starring Klementieff alongside her three new Abeslisk friends.
“Dude, Whatever, I’m Totally OK With Whatever You Do”: Chris Pratt & Other Guardians Of the Galaxy Actors' MCU Futures Addressed By The Director That Oversaw Their Success
James Gunn discusses the Guardians of the Galaxy’s future after his departure from Marvel and explains how much influence he has on the characters.
There has been speculation that a future Mantis-centric spinoff could explore her seminalCelestial Madonnastoryline from Marvel Comics, which saw her become one of the most important characters in the Marvel Universe. Mantis has shown her ability to lead a project, as she was one of the main characters of 2022’sThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday SpecialalongsideDave Bautista’s Drax.It would be great for Mantis to see development as an individual hero in the MCU, as she saw little attention in theGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise, but certainly deserves more.
3The High Evolutionary’s Backstory
Chukwudi Iwuji’s High Evolutionary Is A Formidable New MCU Villain
The High Evolutionary, introduced inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, is one of the MCU’s most terrifying, sinister and interesting new villains.Chukwudi Iwuji deserves to return as the High Evolutionary, perhaps developing him into an even more significant threat in the MCU or expanding on the villain’s rich backstory.The High Evolutionary was revealed to be an extraterrestrial being from an undisclosed world who visited Earth in the 1980s and carried out countless experimentson creatures across the universe, so there is a lot for Marvel Studios to explore.
In Marvel Comics, the High Evolutionary was originally the human Herbert Edgar Wyndham, who took an interest in the work of genetic biologist Nathaniel Essex, the future Mister Sinister, as a student in the 1930s. James Gunn has confirmed this is not the villain’s backstory in the MCU.
Marvel Comics' High Evolutionary is directly involved in the lives and origin stories of many iconic characters, including Adam Warlock, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Thor, the Fantastic Four andX-Men villain Mister Sinister, among others. It would be brilliant to see these connections hinted at or established in the MCU, especially with the Fantastic Four and the X-Men set to debut very soon.The High Evolutionary’s survival followingGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3has been confirmed, so he is perfectly primed to return in a much-wanted spinoff.
2Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 4
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Perfectly Set Up A Sequel
Perhaps the most obvious spinoff that theGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise has set up for the MCU’s future is simply another sequel. James Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy came to an end with 2023’sVol. 3, and the director has noted that a possible sequel likely wouldn’t adopt theVol. 4title. However, it’s very possiblenewGuardians of the Galaxymoviescould be developed for the MCU, especially afterVol. 3’smid-credits scene marked the establishment of a new Guardians of the Galaxy line-up, including Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam, Phyla and Blurp.
With several new additions alongside mainstays Rocket and Groot, it would be great to see thisnew Guardians of the Galaxy teamget some development in the MCU’s future. A possibleGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4would be the perfect place for this to happen.Since the Guardians of the Galaxy is one of Marvel’s most successful and profitable groups, it would be a mistake to ignore them simply because James Gunn has moved to DC, though the future of the Guardians of the Galaxy team hasn’t yet been confirmed.
1Legendary Star-Lord
Marvel Studios Has Teased Chris Pratt’s Legendary Star-Lord Return
There is only one futureGuardians of the Galaxyspinoff that has actually already been teased by Marvel Studios, and that is a project focused on Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, who may not adopt the title of the Legendary Star-Lord. TheLegendary Star-Lord was confirmed to be returning to the MCUas the tag at the end ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, andJames Gunn teased on theHappy, Sad, Confusedpodcast that Chris Pratt might currently be working with Marvel Studios. Even so, it’s unclear exactly when and where Peter Quill’s Star-Lord might reappear in the MCU.
Guardians of the Galaxy
2014
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
2017
2018
2019
Thor: Love and Thunder
2022
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
2023
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3ended with Peter Quill returning to Earth to reunite with his grandfather and presumably live a normal life. However,it’s very unlikely that Quill will stay out of trouble, and, in fact, his new residence on Earth means he is perfectly lined up to meet other notable MCU heroes, and perhaps even join theupcoming Avengers team. After his career in theGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise, it would be brilliant to see Chris Pratt lead his own spinoffs and become a more Earth-based, grounded hero as the Legendary Star-Lord.
Cast
Guardians of the Galaxy is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring Chris Pratt as Peter Quill. Abducted from Earth as a child, Quill navigates intergalactic adventures, becoming entwined in a conflict centered on a powerful orb coveted by Ronan the Accuser.
