Marvel has announced that filming on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is now underway.
To celebrate the news, the studio has also confirmed new cast members joining the highly (no seriously, highly) anticipated sequel. They are: Pom Klementieff (Oldboy), Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby, Everest), Chris Sullivan (The Knick, The Drop) and Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight, Furious 7).
Kurt Russell’s casting is particularly interesting. Since December he’s been rumored to be playing Star-Lord’s dad, but Disney and Marvel did not reveal who he’d be playing today.
Said director James Gunn on Facebook Wednesday morning, “My favorite movie as a small child was The Strongest Man in the World, so I’m glad to announce that, yes, Kurt Russell has joined our cast and, yes, he is more awesome a dude than I ever could have imagined.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 “continues the team’s adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage,” according to a new press release, so the casting of Star-Lord’s dad wouldn’t be too big of a surprise.
As for who the other new Guardians cast members will play? Time will tell.
Update: Gunn has confirmed that Klementieff will play Mantis:
. @PomKlementieff is playing Mantis. As for the rest, you’ll have to wait. https://t.co/NG7ZYGj0YS
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 17, 2016
The first still from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, pictured above, depicts the lead characters Rocket Racoon, Drax, Baby Groot, Star-Lord, and Gamora.
The appearance of Baby Groot is sure to get fans particularly excited. He debuted at the end of the first Guardians in 2014, and fans instantly fell in love. The Dancing Groot Pop! Vinyl Funko became a huge hit — who doesn’t want a Baby Groot?!
Added Gunn on Facebook, “The last few days around here with him and our other new cast members, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, and Chris Sullivan, have been some of the best of my life. I never thought anyone was missing from our island of misfit toys, but now that these folks are here there feels like there was.”
The new movie opens in theaters May 5, 2017 — nearly three years after the first movie opened. The title is a play on the name of the first film’s soundtrack title, “Guardians of the Galaxy, Awesome Mix Volume 1.”
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