New Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 test footage just surfaced online that spotlights Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and his childhood friend and cellmate, Floor (Mikaela Hoover).The two behind-the-scenes clips come via Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 writer-director James Gunn's Twitter account. One shows Rocket painting a portrait of his love interest, anthropomorphic otter Lylla (Linda Cardellini). The other features Floor, a rabbit modified to walk on spider-like mechanical legs, scuttling about what appears to be the cell she shares with Rocket. Both clips were produced by UK-based effects house Framestore, one of 11 visual effects companies credited on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.Related: Tara Strong Takes Over Miley Cyrus' GOTG Character for Vol. 3

This marks the second time that Gunn has shared Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 test footage in the lead-up to the Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster's release. The filmmaker previously tweeted a clip of baby Rocket frolicking with another raccoon, prior to undergoing the genetic experiments that define his abilities and appearance in the present-day MCU. Rocket's prominence in Gunn's pre-release promotional efforts reflects his fondness for the character, whom he previously described as the franchise's "secret protagonist." "I think [Rocket] exemplifies a lot of the traits of all the Guardians," Gunn said. "They've had all these traumas, and it brings them together. I just think that his [trauma] is more extreme than others."

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Gunn's affection for Rocket is so great, it was ultimately what motivated him to sign on for a third Guardians of the Galaxy installment. Gunn recently confessed that he loves Rocket more than any other character he's worked on and was compelled to make Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 to bring the ornery critter's story to a satisfying conclusion. "I absolutely needed to do it, and I think we've done it in a spectacular way that I can't wait for people to see," he said. Gunn added that because of this, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's story revolves around Rocket more than the previous two entries in the franchise.

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Gunn almost didn't get the chance to wrap up Rocket's arc, though. The filmmaker was famously fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2018, only to be reinstated the following year. Former Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn opened up about the decision to rehire Gunn in a recent interview, noting that Gunn's behavior following his dismissal was key to his eventual return. "Everything he did subsequently was first class," Horn said. "He was such a gentleman about it in the ensuing months that we just brought him back. It felt like the right thing to do. I hold him in absolute high regard."

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 arrives in theaters on May 5, 2023.

Source: Twitter