Guardians of the Galaxy was one of summer 2014's biggest surprises. Who knew a movie about a group of alien misfits that included a talking raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper and a tree voiced by Vin Diesel (A TREE!) could be so funny, exciting, and moving? I know I didn't — but, sure enough, as soon as I watched the movie I fell in love. However, since Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the best films Marvel has ever produced, I can't deny I'm a little apprehensive about Marvel's upcoming sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 . As much as I want more of these characters, I worry the sequel — as is the case with many sequels — will not be able to capture the same magic the first movie offered up. However, my worries may be for naught: Writer/director James Gunn has apparently finished the first draft of the script, and, according Slash Film, it made Chris Pratt (Star Lord) cry.
In an interview with Digital Spy, Chris Pratt said, "I will say that his pitch and his idea legitimately put tears in my eyes. It is so good, it’s so good. And I cannot wait to get started on it and I cannot wait for people to see what he’s going to pull off with the second movie. It’s so, so big and so good." If the story is good enough for Pratt, I don't even need to see it to know that it will be good enough for me. In addition to making Pratt cry, Gunn's script reportedly promises more focus on the team, fewer secondary characters, and serious intel on Star Lord's mysterious father. Here is everything known about Guardians of the Galaxy 2 so far:
There Will Be One New, Major Character
"I really want to get to know the characters that we know better, and yeah, we will be introducing a new character…" Gunn said in an interview with Games Radar. As for who that new character is, the most likely answer is Star Lord's father — but we don't know this for sure. Gunn is adamant that the sequel will be all about family, though, and Star Lord has been separated from his for a very long time. Plus, Pratt reportedly knows who Star Lord's father is (and no, comic book fans, it is not who you think it is).
Gunn Isn't Worried About Making Everything Bigger
Superhero movie sequels have a bad habit of trying to make everything bugger than it was in the first: more characters, more action, and more villains is usually the mantra, but it rarely ever makes for a good movie. Gunn is doing something completely different with this film, however, by making everything smaller. In the same Games Radar interview, Gunn went on to say, "People ask for so many characters to be in Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, and they ask for so many actors who they want to be in Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, but we actually have less characters in Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 than we have in Guardians Of The Galaxy 1, because everything is just getting too sprawling and too crazy for me in these superhero comic book movies."
The Team Will Be Back In Full Force
Guardians 2 won't be adding a bunch of new faces, but all of the first movie's best characters are back. In addition to the core five who make up the team, Yondu (Michael Rooker), Kraglin (Sean Gunn) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) are also on board. Given how the theme for the second outing is family, it is great to see Nebula back. Hopefully this means she and Gamora will get to do a bit of sisterly bonding this time around!
All The Music For The Awesome Mix, Vol. 2 Has Been Chosen
The music used in the first movie was a huge part of the story, and the second will be no different. Gunn actually wrote the songs for the second movie into the first draft of the script — so Pratt knows what they are, but he is not telling. "I know some of the songs that are going to be on ‘Awesome Mix 2,'" Pratt told Slash Film . "All I can tell you, because I obviously, I’m not allowed to tell anybody anything, nor would I want to, because it would be a little bit like telling a kid what’s under the tree before Christmas morning. I would encourage people not to poke holes in the paper and peek. Allow yourself the Christmas morning. Don’t ruin it."
But I want to know now, Pratt!
Pratt Cried Because The Script Is Extra Emotional
The emphasis is on the characters in a big way this time around, so it's no wonder Pratt got emotional. Gunn told MTV the second movie is going to focus heavily on revealing new things about Star Lord, Groot, Gamora, and the rest of the gang. "I think it’s about getting to know the characters a little bit more," Gunn said in the MTV interview. "You know, in the first one, we kind of had one hand tied behind our backs because we had to introduce all those characters in one movie. And in this one we really get to play and have a good time and have fun. And then also get a little bit more — I don’t want to say serious, but go a little bit deeper with who the characters are."
Can it be 2017 now? Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is set to premiere May 5th, 2017.
Images: Marvel; Giphy (5)
