A set of newly released images for 2022's LEGO advent calendar seem to confirm some major plot details for Marvel Studios' upcoming The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
The LEGO Instructions App revealed that the 2022 advent calendar will be themed after the Holiday Special, which is set to be released on Disney+ in December. The LEGO set gives Marvel Cinematic Universe fans a look at what the Holiday Special may hold for the first time since Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige first announced it in December 2020. Some of the revealed details include Groot decorated like a Christmas tree, a return of the Collector, and Peter Quill/Star-Lord riding what appears to be Santa's sled.
Director James Gunn teased in 2021 that The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special would introduce "one of the greatest MCU characters of all time," which some have theorized to be the MCU's version of Santa Claus. While the idea of the in-canon special introducing Saint Nick may seem absurd to many people, the character has actually made multiple canonical appearances in the Marvel Comic books as a mutant. Given the recent revaluation at the end of Ms. Marvel, the Holiday Special introducing a mutant Santa is far from impossible.
As for the Collector (Benicio del Toro), who first appeared in a post-credits scene in 2013's Thor: The Dark World, it's unknown whether or not the character will return for the Holiday Special. The character was last seen in the main MCU timeline during 2018's Avengers: Infinity War in an illusion created by Thanos (Josh Brolin). Although the scene seemed to imply that Thanos had killed the Collector before the Guardians arrived on Knowhere, neither his death nor his body was shown in the film.
In March 2022, Gunn hyped up The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special by describing it as "the greatest thing I've ever done in my life." He said at the time, "It's totally ridiculous, and every day we can't believe that we're making it. We all completely love it. It is unlike anything that anyone's ever seen before. I can't wait for people to see it. And it's out pretty soon. You know, it's out this Christmas. It's not like people have to wait that long."
Gunn also recently confirmed that not all of the Guardians of the Galaxy will appear in The Holiday Special, though it's unclear who will not be reprising their role for the Disney+ special. The writer/director also confirmed that the special will take place between Thor: Love and Thunder and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will be released in December 2022 on Disney+.
Source: The LEGO Instructions App, via The Direct