Everything We Know About 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3'

We are Groot!

The Guardians of the Galaxy are returning for another adventure.

Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be the final installment of the Guardians trilogy—and according to director James Gunn, it's going to be a "big movie."

"The movie is so emotional, but it’s been a real joy making it," he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022.

Vol. 3 will be the co-chair and co-CEO of DC Studios' last Guardians film. At San Diego Comic-Con 2022, he said (via Deadline), "This is the end of that story. I’m sorry. Some stories have an end. It doesn’t mean everybody dies.”

Speaking to Deadline months later, Gunn shared, “It’s not ever going to be the same group of characters for a lot of different reasons. Who knows what will happen with the Guardians franchise in regards to future characters, but in terms of this group of characters, this is the end of their story.”

Before their story comes to an end, here is everything we know so far about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Related: How to Watch The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

When is the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 release date?

The film premieres in theaters on May 5, 2023.

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How to watch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be released in theaters on May 5, 2023. It will stream on Disney+ sometime after its release, though the theatrical window's exact length isn't yet known.

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Who is in the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 cast?

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 stars:

Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord

Chris Pratt stars once more as Star-Lord/Peter Quill. He's previously hinted that Vol. 3 may take place in the past. When asked if his character dies, he told Extra, “There are no plans for that right now. I think anything is possible, anything is possible. There’s multiverse thing. I’m not saying I am, but if a character gets killed… Actually, turns out there are, like, crazy wormholes to bring people back.”

Zoe Saldaña as Gamora

Zoe Saldaña returns as Gamora for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but it's a different Gamora than the one in the previous timeline—and she has no idea that she was dating Star-Lord.

Dave Bautista as Drax

Dave Bautista is done playing Drax after Guardians 3 because he doesn't want to play the character without James Gunn—and because he doesn't want to constantly be shirtless onscreen. Understandable, but we're going to miss him!

Karen Gillan as Nebula

James Gunn previously noted that Nebula and Mantis will have "huge" roles in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Karen Gillan also said that the third Guardians film is the end of the current group "as we know it."

Pom Klementieff as Mantis

Pom Klementieff stars as Mantis in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and a big reveal showed her connection to Star-Lord in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special—so if you haven't seen it yet, tune in before seeing this movie!

Vin Diesel as Groot

Vin Diesel will bring his "Felliniesque" craft back to voice Groot.

Bradley Cooper as Rocket

Bradley Cooper returns to voice Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. James Gunn has said that the film will end Rocket's story arc. While fans have fretted that the beloved critter character may die, it's just as possible he may find his happily ever after ending with Lylla the Otter, who is also seen in the trailer—and who is his soulmate in the comics. Cue the tears!

Sean Gunn as Kraglin

Sean Gunn, director James Gunn's brother, will reprise his role of Kraglin for the third Guardians installment.

Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary

Chukwudi Iwuji, who previously worked with James Gunn in Peacemaker, will star as the High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The High Evolutionary is a super-powered geneticist who created Rocket Raccoon.

Will Poulter as Adam Warlock

Will Poulter got ripped to play Adam Warlock. He told The Independent that the preparation for the role impacted his social life because he wasn't able to dine out with pals, noting, "It's been a lot of gym work and a very, very specific diet. It means not particularly civilized at times. Quantities of food you wouldn't necessarily want to ingest. And other times, not enough food. I've gone through a series of different diets over the last few months."

James Gunn gushed to ScreenRant of Poulter, "He's the best. He's killing it. People are really going to love Adam—or love? They're going to appreciate Adam Warlock, I'll say."

Maria Bakalova as Cosmo the Space Dog

Maria Bakalova voices Cosmo the Space Dog, a pooch who, in the comics, works with the Nova Corps. When a fan complained that James Gunn changed the sex of Cosmo, who is a boy in the comics, Gunn replied, "Cosmo is based on Laika, a female Soviet space dog who died in orbit in 1957 - I’m just going back to the original source material."

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Is there a trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?

Marvel Studios debuted the official trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 at CCXP22 in São Paulo, Brazil on Dec. 1.

"We have been running our whole lives," Pratt's character says in the trailer.

"Pete, I'm done running," Rocket declares. "We'll all fly away together, one last time ... into the forever and beautiful sky."

Another trailer dropped during the 2023 Super Bowl on Feb. 12, and this one felt more like a definitive farewell to the beloved motley crew of characters. We're not crying, you're crying.

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What will happen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?

James Gunn has teased that the movie is an "enormous film" and that he "had a plan from the beginning.”

“The reason why I needed to finish this is because I love the character of Rocket more than any character I’ve ever dealt with before, and I needed to finish his story and that is what Volume 3 is about," the director previously told Deadline. "I absolutely needed to do it, and I think we’ve done it in a spectacular way that I can’t wait for people to see.”

According to Marvel, the "beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different" in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. "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."

Next, test your Marvel movie knowledge with these 60 trivia questions and answers!