At the start of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”, Marvel director James Gunn reveals in an interview what connects him to fan favorite Rocket.
Director and Marvel mastermind James Gunn (56) brings “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” to German cinemas on May 3rd. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the filmmaker reveals what similarities there are between him and the popular raccoon character Rocket, why an actress had to do the filming on all fours, and whether viewers are seeing the Guardians of the Galaxy for the last time receive.
Mr. Gunn, you are now leaving Marvel and going to major competitor DC. Do you give your blessing to other filmmakers to continue making stories with your Guardians of the Galaxy characters?
James Gunn: Well, some of the cast of the characters who are still there at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 stop. Some people are no longer there. But as for the characters that survive, I can’t wait to see what Marvel does with them. I look forward to seeing their adventures continue.
They describe this film as Rocket’s story. He tells the background of the character and where she goes. What can the audience look forward to?
Gunn: From the beginning we saw a little guy who was tormented in many ways. He’s a very angry little animal – a human-animal hybrid. And I think this film actually tells the story of where he came from, how he came to be and who he is. And also how he changes throughout this film to learn more about himself – as do the other characters.
I think the first film was very much about the mother, the second about the father, and this film is about the self. All of our characters are confronted with who they are and are confronted with their own weaknesses and strengths.
You once said that Rocket is loosely based on yourself. What do you mean by that?
Gunn: I’m a little punk rock kid from Missouri, was always an angry guy and didn’t have an easy childhood. That’s why I’ve always felt connected to Rocket, because he pushes the world away from him – with anger, but also with humor. Also, he doesn’t feel comfortable meeting other people. I think he’s unique too, and that’s why he feels incredibly lonely.
That kind of loneliness – feeling like a weirdo, like an outsider and someone who doesn’t belong anywhere – I’ve always had that in me. As an adult, I tried to deal with it in a mature way. But that part of me is Rocket.
If you think about Rocket’s story in the third “Guardians” part, or about the character of the High Evolutionary, the new film seems very dark in places. Sometimes violent things happen that are even reminiscent of the villain Thanos’ snap. Was it your intention to go darker in the trilogy conclusion?
Gunn: I don’t think it’s about getting darker. Rather, it’s about fully exploring the stories of these characters. For example, we always knew that Nebula had a very dark history. The entire film series began with a boy whose mother dies before him just before he is kidnapped by pirates. So these elements have always existed.
So given this trilogy in mind, and considering Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 to be the third act in a three act trilogy, it’s natural for things to get a little heavier and riskier for the group becomes. Who survives and who dies is a little more uncertain. All of these things have to do with raising the stakes for the characters.
In addition, there were only a few months between the first and second film, but part three is now set years later. The characters have long since become a family. This film is not a film about growing together as a family. It’s not like the characters in every Guardians movie learn the same lesson. This film is about a family that already exists and the problems they have with each other.
So it’s a bit more serious at times, but at the same time there’s all the joy, music and comedy that we’ve come to expect from a Guardians film.
Maria Bakalova, who plays Cosmo the Spacedog, also recorded the moves for the bitch. Why does a human actress have to portray the movements of a dog?
Gunn: Maria was very involved during the filming. She walked around on her hands and knees throughout the film. She was always there, always on set. We always filmed with her. All the little movements Cosmo makes, the little things on her face, all came from Maria.
Incidentally, this also applies to the four characters from Rocket’s past. Again, the cast were on set: Sean Gunn, Linda Cardellini, Asim Chaudhry and Mikaela Hoover. All these animal beings are based entirely on human performances.