By the time Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hit theaters in 2023, the film already carried the weight of closure. Written and directed by James Gunn, the trilogy finale delivered emotional beats, a new team lineup, and a final bow for many of its stars. Rocket Raccoon took center stage, Peter Quill went home, and Mantis walked off into the unknown.
For the cast, it was also a moment of reckoning. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) had been a career-defining space for many of them, the end of Vol. 3 sparked different trajectories. Zoe Saldaña made clear she would not return as Gamora, even urging Marvel to recast. Dave Bautista, never shy about his discontent, all but shut the door on playing Drax again (unless Gunn returns, which is unlikely). Chris Pratt left his return open-ended, with a post-credits scene teasing more of Star-Lord.
The director behind it all, meanwhile, had already begun reshaping another cinematic universe.
James Gunn’s Next Chapter Begins
James Gunn’s transition from Marvel to DC was not just unexpected—it was almost unthinkable at one point. In 2018, Disney abruptly fired him from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 after resurfaced tweets triggered a public backlash. The decision was widely criticized, including by the Guardians cast, who released a rare open letter defending Gunn and calling for his reinstatement.
They got their wish. Gunn was brought back in 2019 to finish the trilogy. But by then, he had already made his DC debut, directing The Suicide Squad for Warner Bros. That film’s blend of chaos, comedy, and emotional core impressed both fans and execs—and paved the way for a much bigger role.
In 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery named Gunn co-head of DC Studios, alongside producer Peter Safran. Their first major project? A new Superman, set to launch DC’s “Gods and Monsters” continuity and formally leave the Zack Snyder era behind.
Old Friends in New Roles
Though Gunn has stressed that DC and Marvel are separate creative worlds, some familiar voices are crossing over. In a recent interview with Buzzfeed Australia, he revealed that three Guardians of the Galaxy veterans will appear in Superman, set for release on July 11, 2025.
“I will give you something that nobody knows,” he said. “Pom Klementieff is one of the robots. In that same scene, it’s Bradley [Cooper], it’s also Pom, and Michael Rooker is another one of the robots. We’ve got two Guardians right there.”
Klementieff played Mantis in the Guardians trilogy. Cooper famously voiced Rocket. Rooker, a longtime Gunn collaborator, played Yondu. The three will voice robots in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, though whether Cooper also takes on another role—rumors have long linked him to Jor-El—remains unconfirmed.
This marks another return for Rooker within the DCU. He previously voiced Sam Fitzgibbon in Creature Commandos and is set to appear as Red St. Wild in Peacemaker Season 2, part of the new continuity Gunn is crafting from the ground up.
Superman stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. It will also introduce a slate of heroes and supporting characters from across the DC mythos, including Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl.
For Gunn, the goal is clear: rebuild a fractured franchise with stories that balance myth, humanity, and spectacle—and bring along a few old allies while he’s at it.
Are you excited for Superman?
