Much of 2017’s movie line up is now headed for production and Guardians of the Galaxy is no exception. Along with the announcement photo displayed above we have also been given a slew of information on casting and characters. So let’s take a look!
New Team Member
In the previous film team members Starlord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Groot and Drax joined forces to defeat Ronan, well it looks like in Vol.2 they’re calling in extra help. It’s been confirmed by Marvel that James Gunn will introduce Mantis to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Mantis is, in the comics, a human who was born to become an entity known as the Celestial Madonna and was trained by the Kree. In the 616 universe Mantis has fought alongside the Avengers, Silver Surfer, the Fantastic Four and the Guardians, and has the powers of Telepathy, Healing, Astral Projection, Chlorokinesis and Empathy. She will be played by relative unknown Pom Klementieff.
What’s interesting is that Gunn has previously stated that he wishes to keep Peter Quill as the only human member of the Guardians, so we can expect to see a lot of changes to Mantis’ background in which she was raised and born on Earth. Most likely Mantis will keep her abilities (including those that enable her to talk to Groot!) but have a totally different origin story.
Kurt Russell’s Role
The star of Tarentino’s Hateful Eight, Kurt Russell, has added his name to Vol. 2 and rumour is rife that he has been cast as Starlord’s mysterious father. Earlier he said to HSH Podcast (In relation to the first Guardians of the Galaxy film) “I don’t know anything about it. I’m one of the four idiots who have never seen it, evidently,”
Speculation as to who Starlord’s father could be in the movie has ranged from Loki to Adam Warlock to Mar-Vell (The original Captain Marvel before Carol Danvers took up his mantle). James Gunn has commented that Vol.2 will be very much about fathers not just for Quill but for other team members too.
Other Casting
Also released were the names of other actors/actresses who have been taken on board for the sequel. Elizabeth Debicki and Chris Sullivan will both feature in an as yet unknown capacity, although some have guessed that this movie may introduce Lady Death (and that this is the role Elizabeth Debicki will be playing).
For more information of Guardians of the Galaxy and other Marvel movies this year, keep right here on TiCGN!
