Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a 2017 live-action superhero film produced by 20th Century Fox and Marvel Studios. It is the overall twentieth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the direct sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy. The film was released worldwide May 5th 2017.
Production[]
Guardians of the Galaxy was, much to surprise of Marvel Studios and the entertainment industry as a whole, a critically acclaimed motion picture and an extremely profitable franchise for 20th Century Fox's film slate. James Gunn, the director of the first film was supposed to be hired to helm the sequel, but due to having commitments with other projects was unable to do it. Indie director Taika Waititi was instead hired in his place. Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios wished to have the Guardians play a much more prominent role in the overall direction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and to help lead into their upcoming Avengers 3, which was planned to star Thanos as the main villain. After Comic Con Summer 2015 Phase 3's schedule was publicly shown. Including the Guardians sequel which was revealed to be titled Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and given the prime time May release slot in 2017, one year exactly before Avengers 3 and two years before Avengers 4 respectively. Feige described this decision as being intentional claiming that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 would act as the beginning to an "unofficial" trilogy of films telling one large story that would be continued in Avengers 3 in 2018 and concluded with Avengers 4 in 2019.
Connecting furthermore to the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Hulk's disappearance at the end of Avengers: The Ultron Imperative was meant to set up the Planet Hulk storyline for either Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Thor: Ragnarok, or Avengers 3. Marvel Studios approached Taika Waititi with the option to use the Hulk if he wanted to but if he didn't the character would simply be moved into another Phase 3 film. Waititi fortunately agreed to do it claiming to be a fan of Planet Hulk and thinking Bruce Banner would fit well with the Guardians.
Principle filming began in mid 2016 and the film was released on schedule May 5th 2017.
Cast[]
- Chris Pratt as Jason Quill/Star-Lord
- Zoe Saldana as Gamora/Umbra Requiem
- Bradley Cooper as Rocket (Voice)
- Vin Diesel as Kanoot (Voice)
- Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer
- Pom Klementieff as Mantis
- Matthew McConaughey as Adam Warlock/The Magus
- Jeff Goldblum as En Dwi Gast/The Grandmaster
- Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk
- Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt/Red Skull
- Taika Waititi as Korg
- Josh Brolin as Thanos
- Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta
- David Hasselhoff as Sphinxor
- Robert Downey Jr. as Anthony "Tony" Stark/Iron Man (Cameo)