As expected with a new Marvel Studios film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 features two post-credits scenes that tease the future of the series, and what it may entail to the ongoing story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And although James Gunn’s trilogy has concluded in a way that truly feels definitive, some breadcrumbs are left behind for the MCU to carry into future stories.
SPOILER WARNING
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ends in a way that may surprise audiences that have followed the marketing of the film. Given that the story is centered on Rocket (Bradley Cooper), with a particular emphasis on how emotional of a story it will be for the anthropomorphic Raccoon, many expected the character to not make it out of the film alive. To the relief of fans, not only does Rocket live to see another day, but Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) appoints him as the new leader of the team, now that he has left Knowhere to reunite with his grandfather Jason Quill (Gregg Lee Henry) on Earth.
In his first official scene as the new leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket is joined by the official new roster of the team, which features returning members Groot (Vin Diesel), Kraglin (Sean Gunn) and Cosmo (Maria Bakalova) along with newcomers Phyla and Adam Warlock (Will Pouter). Rocket asks each member about some of their favorite musicians, to which he then plays the song “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone on the Zune that Star-Lord gave him before he left for Earth, in a sweet callback to the title sequence of the original 2014 film. Upon the playing of the song, we see Groot’s powers have grown exponentially as the new team embark on their newest mission.
As for the film’s second post-credits scene, we see Peter Quill is still spending time with his Grandfather in Missouri, as he is shown enjoying breakfast with him. A newspaper that Grandpa Quill features a cover headline about an Alien Abduction, in which “Kevin Bacon Shares All.” This is of course, a reference to The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, in which Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) kidnap Kevin Bacon himself as a Christmas gift for Peter, who was still depressed over the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and his Holiday memories with Yondu (Michael Rooker). The film officially ends with the caption, “The Legendary Star-Lord will return,” teasing that although his time with the Guardians is over, Peter Quill will be seen again.
What to expect from the third Guardians movie
Written and directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Sean Gunn, Sylvester Stallone, Will Poulter, Chukwudi Iwuji and Maria Bakalova.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 synopsis reads as follows: “Our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere, but it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life – a mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.”
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