While we are gaining a lot of new members in the MCU at the moment, the world of Marvel has classic characters that so many fans know and love, and have a hard time saying goodbye to.
If you’re a Marvel fan, chances are you’ve fallen in love with the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
Whether it was Baby Groot’s debut in Vol. 2 that made you smile, your belief that Peter Quill (Star-Lord) and Gamora will eventually reunite, or the emotional weight of Rocket’s backstory, the Guardians have managed to blend action and humor in a way unlike anything Marvel had done before.
Even the unexpected appearance of Kevin Bacon in the Disney+ Christmas special brought a new twist to their universe.
This ragtag team of intergalactic misfits has become a fan favorite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Their adventures, combining comedy, action, and nostalgia, have struck a chord with audiences worldwide.
Led by Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), a human abducted from Earth as a child, the team is known for its quirky but capable members. Star-Lord’s love for 80s music and his cocky yet charming leadership define his role.
He’s joined by Gamora (Zoe Saldana), a fierce assassin seeking redemption; Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), a warrior bent on vengeance; Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), a genius raccoon with a penchant for weapons; and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), a humanoid tree with a limited vocabulary and unbreakable loyalty.
The Guardians’ journey began in 2014 with Guardians of the Galaxy, directed by James Gunn, which exceeded expectations and grossed over $773 million globally. The sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), was even more successful, pulling in over $863 million.
Most recently, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 proved another hit, earning $845.6 million globally and becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2023.
After Vol. 3, however, the Guardians disbanded.
Chris Pratt recently spoke out on if he would ever return to the MCU:
“It’s hard to imagine what that would look like, so I guess I’d just have to take it on a case-by-case basis,” he said. “Of course, I’d be open to it. I love the character. It changed my life. If it came along and it made sense and I felt like it was a story worth telling, then I’d certainly, certainly be open to it. I love playing Star-Lord.”
While Pratt appears open to returning to the MCU, he stated he wouldn’t reprise his role as Star-Lord without James Gunn’s approval. Gunn, who wrote and directed all three Guardians of the Galaxy films and the holiday special, is currently under contract with DC Studios for the next few years, making it impossible for him to write or direct any future Star-Lord projects for Marvel during that time.
At the conclusion of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), Peter Quill—now seemingly retired from his galaxy-saving adventures—returns to Earth and reunites with his grandfather. In the post-credits scene, they are shown peacefully sharing breakfast together.
As the screen fades to white, the text “The Legendary Star-Lord will return” appears, confirming that Marvel Studios has future plans for Star-Lord in the MCU. However, those plans have yet to be revealed.
While the story will continue, many of the characters, including Dave Bautista’s Drax, will not.
Dave Bautista is firm in his decision that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be his final portrayal of Drax the Destroyer. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show, Bautista reiterated his commitment to leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe and expressed surprise that his departure remains newsworthy.
“Yeah, it’s strange. I don’t understand why it’s still a big deal,” Bautista remarked. “This is my seventh film as Drax and my third Guardians movie. We were always meant to have a trilogy. This is what we all signed up for, and I believe this will be the final chapter for our ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’”
Bautista praised writer-director James Gunn for creating a “perfect exit” for Drax, stating that returning to Marvel as the character would “tarnish” his story. He emphasized that not even a substantial Marvel paycheck could persuade him to undermine Drax’s ideal conclusion.
Now, Bautista has made it even more clear that the big buff Drax is gone.
Dave Bautista has traded his muscular physique for a significantly slimmer frame after leaving his wrestling career behind.
The WWE icon turned Hollywood actor, known for his roles in the James Bond and Marvel franchises, as well as films like Knock at the Cabin and the upcoming Killer’s Game, showcased his weight loss transformation on the red carpet this week.
At 55, Bautista, who was known to WWE fans as Batista, looked notably different but stylish at the premiere of The Last Showgirl during the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday. He donned a sleek, patterned black suit over a simple black top, complemented by a white beard and lightly tinted glasses.
Photos of Bautista on the red carpet have been blowing up all over the internet. Below, you can take a look at the dramatic change.
“What happened to Dave Bautista?”
What happened to Dave Bautista? pic.twitter.com/caaXBdy8Vi
— Creepy.org (@creepydotorg) September 8, 2024
Bautista recently shared insights about his weight loss journey, noting he feels he’s at his lightest since his teenage years, about 16 years before he joined WWE at age 31.
“I’m getting super trimmed; this is probably the lightest I’ve been since I was 19 years old,” he told Insights with Chris Van Vliet. “The heaviest I’ve ever been was 370 pounds. When I started Deacon, I was around 325 pounds. Throughout most of my wrestling career, I was about 290 pounds. Now, I’m about 240 pounds.”
Determined to slim down, Bautista lost six stone after working on Knock at the Cabin in 2022. He admitted it wasn’t easy shedding the weight he gained for the role. “A year and a half ago, for Knock at the Cabin, I was 315 pounds, and that’s when the real challenge began,” he said. “Losing that weight has been difficult. Now, I’m very particular about my diet.”
This summer, Bautista revealed he’s incorporated jiu-jitsu into his fitness regimen, which has led him to sacrifice some muscle mass. “I’ve sacrificed a lot of muscle, but I’m fine with it because I feel more comfortable,” he told Live with Kelly and Mark. “There were certain areas, no matter how much weight I lost, that I couldn’t get rid of, like my stomach, chest, and even my face.”
So, if it wasn’t already clear that he was done with Marvel for the time being, this new look indeed confirms it.
Bautista would love to reunite with the Guardians cast, however, under certain conditions. The actor said:
“That’s kind of my goal. I really want, because I’ve done another project outside of Guardians with Karen Gillan, and I’ve done work with Pom now. I would like to work with Chris and Zoe outside of the Marvel Universe, as well.”
Would you like to see Dave Bautista return to Marvel?