Sean Gunn, the actor whose physical performance has anchored Rocket Raccoon since the character first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe more than a decade ago, has confirmed he is stepping away from the role.
“Sean Gunn has no plans to continue his motion capture role for Guardians of the Galaxy character Rocket Raccoon,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Gunn spoke about his decision during an appearance on The Brandon Davis Show, as cited by the LA Times. He said the demands of the job had begun to wear on him.
“I think it had a little bit of an effect on my physiology. My knees are fine, but since I turned 50 a couple of years ago, I am retired from playing Rocket,” Gunn said. “I don't think I can do the motion reference anymore for Rocket. I think I'm too old.”
A Dual Role Behind the Scenes
Audiences know Gunn on screen as Kraglin Obfonteri, the Ravager he has played in the Guardians of the Galaxy films since 2014. His contribution to Rocket was less visible but just as important. While Bradley Cooper voices the genetically engineered raccoon, Gunn provided the on-set motion reference that shaped the character's movement and physicality.
That work spans six films: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).
Gunn has also worked across the studio divide. He joined DC Studios to play Maxwell Lord in Superman (2025), directed by his brother, James Gunn.
Guardians Absent From Doomsday
The announcement comes as Marvel Studios prepares one of its most ambitious releases in years. The Russo Brothers' Avengers: Doomsday (2026) is set to close out the year and is widely seen as the centerpiece of a franchise recovery. It follows Destin Daniel Cretton's record-breaking Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), which stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Zendaya as MJ.
Doomsday brings back a long list of legacy characters and introduces Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom. Doom takes over from Kang the Conqueror as the franchise's central antagonist. The Russos and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige have described Doomsday and its 2027 follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars, as a fresh start for the MCU.
That next chapter will include the X-Men, whose momentum grew at this year's D23 Expo. Further casting was announced there: Maya Boyd and Inde Navarrette will join Sadie Sink's Jean Grey as Ororo Munroe/Storm and Rogue, respectively.
One group is notably missing from the lineup. No member of the Guardians of the Galaxy is currently slated to appear in Doomsday.
An Open-Ended Conclusion
James Gunn's trilogy wrapped three years ago, but left most of its characters' futures unresolved. Chris Pratt's Peter Quill/Star-Lord returned to Earth, and a post-credits scene confirmed he would be back. Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), and Drax (Dave Bautista) were left scattered across the cosmos.
Rocket and Groot (Vin Diesel) ended the film leading a new incarnation of the Guardians. The closing moments of Vol. 3 showed that team, which includes Cosmo the Spacedog (Maria Bakalova) and Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), heading off on its next mission.
It remains unclear whether any of these characters will return. Several cast members have already ruled themselves out. Bautista has spoken openly about his decision not to play Drax again, and Gunn's departure now adds to that list.
Commercial Track Record
The franchise's commercial standing makes its future a live question for the studio. As the Multiverse era nears its end and a single timeline appears all but certain to be restored, the Guardians remain one of Marvel's more reliable properties.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 earned $845.5 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. That result came during a difficult post-pandemic theatrical market and a run of disappointments for Marvel. It also arrived just months after Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), starring Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, failed with both critics and audiences.
Marvel Studios has not announced any plans for the Guardians beyond Vol. 3.
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