Guardians of the Galaxy 2: Every Character Has An Arc

Let’s face it: The Guardians of the Galaxy are terrible role models. Okay, maybe that’s a little harsh, but part of the appeal of the first film (and hopefully the upcoming sequel) is that the Guardians are all relatable. Despite being aliens and raccoons and talking trees, they’re each flawed individuals with painful pasts and fairly simple dreams for the future. Part of that is what makes the franchise’s focus on family so important, but it also grounds the more fantastical elements of the space-faring action-comedy.

We’ve learned a lot about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 so far, and despite the addition of a number of new characters and an expanded team, director James Gunn has continually reiterated that each member will be important and will get their story expanded. We’ve learned that the Power Stone has altered Peter Quill in some way, know that Groot and Drax will have a sibling rivalry, and got an idea of how Peter and his father Ego will interact. Essentially, the movie will be a complicated exploration of family and friendship, with lots of explosions.

Thanks to Cinema Blend, we’ve now got a number of quotes from Gunn that tease the interpersonal relationships of the Guardians and how each character, not just Star-Lord, will get their own arc within the story of the movie:

“That’s the first thing people say when they see the movie. The first movie was about Peter Quill, and the second movie has every single character have a complete arc, a complete story. They each learn something. It’s a story about Peter Quill, with his father, but also his abusive step-father, Yondu.”

Yondu, of course, will be joining the team this time around, which will likely add to the complex dynamic of the film. While he certainly raised Quill in many respects, Gunn is apt in describing their relationship as “abusive.” Not to mention, they didn’t exactly part on the best of terms during the first Guardians movie. Yondu and his Ravagers will also share a connection with Rocket, unsurprising given their shared mercenary leanings:

“I think it’s a story about this poor little Rocket, who is in search of a father and in search of a somebody to give a shit, who cannot find it – and maybe does a little bit with Michael Rooker’s character.”

Meanwhile, we’ve heard a lot about how Gamora and Nebula’s sisterhood and upbringing under Thanos will inform the movie. Gunn went on to explain how their short shrift in the first film will be addressed, as will our preconceived notions about the characters:

“It’s about Nebula’s relationship with her sister, Gamora, and how that’s not all that we saw in the first movie. It’s a lot deeper and more complicated than that. We thought in the first movie that Gamora was the good guy, and Nebula’s the bad guy, but that really isn’t the whole story.”

The film’s female characters will get even more focus thanks to the villainous Ayesha and new Guardian Mantis. Though quite different from the comics, Mantis still retains her empathetic powers, which will help her connect with the Guardians. Interestingly, it’ll be the reserved and seemingly emotionless Drax that will connect with her the most:

“It’s about Dave Bautista and Mantis together, who become on the one hand close friends, and then on the other hand she’s a surrogate daughter for the daughter that was murdered.”

Drax and Mantis are both characters whose calculated demeanor might leave many thinking they’re cold, so it’ll be interesting to see how they bond. And naturally, there will also be plenty of Baby Groot in the new movie, even if he should really be safely aboard the ship:

“And of course Baby Groot’s relationship with all of them, they are the worst parents in the entire world! Who else brings a two-year-old son into a giant battle with a giant monster? Terrible parents! And maybe Gamora and Rocket are better than the other two. The other two are terrible. All of those things come together in a way that seems pretty magical.”

Though there’s no argument that the Guardians are bad potential parents, comic readers know that even a pint-sized Groot is still a formidable opponent. The more interesting thing is that Gunn considers Gamora and Rocket, an assassin and a thief, to be  better parents than Quill or Drax. Perhaps we’ll learn what that’s all about when the movie hits theaters. In the meantime, we’ll be rewatching the final Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 trailer a few more times, waiting until the film arrives on the scene.

Source: Cinema Blend