Disney recently unveiled the new trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 at CCXP 2022, and what many fans noticed immediately was a stark shift in tone. The Guardians' appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far have been characterized by their humor, although they can occasionally pack an emotional punch. For their third installment, it seems the humorous moments may be few and far between as the Guardians battle through traumatic pasts and fierce foes to reach the conclusion of their trilogy.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is rumored to focus heavily on Rocket's backstory, which was supported by the newly released clips of Baby Rocket and his otter girlfriend, Lylla. Additionally, Peter Quill's quest to find the 2014 version of Gamora, who disappeared at the end of Avengers: Endgame, will inevitably succeed, as the trailer reveals, although the details of how she is found are still unknown. The main antagonist of the film is Will Poulter's Adam Warlock, who was first teased in one of the after-credits scenes for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. In the trailer, he is shown pummeling Nebula, no easy feat given she is a top-tier warrior in the MCU after training under her father Thanos. The multiple shots of characters crying or of Guardians carrying wounded group members also indicate that there will be severe consequences moving forward.
Multiple Guardians Could Die in GotG Vol. 3
Director James Gunn has previously confirmed that one or more Guardians will die in the third installment. Since this is the conclusion of their story for the foreseeable future, it is not entirely surprising. However, a few particular members are likely to bite the bullet in this recent installment, the first being Rocket. Given that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will explore the depths of his background and character, he is a likely choice for a tragic death, emphasized by the fact that much of his storyline has been marked by selfish behavior and impulsivity. In sacrificing his life for his friends, he may finally reach the end of his character arc. Gunn also explained, as reported in MCU Exchange, that Rocket's past is even more disheartening than in the comics, where he was experimented on and abandoned by his AI creators.
Drax is also likely to die, given that Dave Bautista has confirmed that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be his last time playing the character. After his extensive family trauma at the hands of Ronan and Thanos, giving Drax a proper send-off would be both tear-jerking and well-deserved. Nebula is another character to watch in the upcoming sequel, as her battle with Adam Warlock may just be a brawl she cannot win. Nebula also has a near-complete character arc after the larger exploration of her character in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.
Peter and Gamora's Love Story May Have a Tragic Ending
One of the main threads in the previous GotG movies has been the romantic tension between Chris Pratt's Peter Quill and Zoe Saldaña's Gamora. After finally confessing their love for one another, Gamora was killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War so he could collect the Soul Stone. After the time-travel antics in Avengers: Endgame, the 2014 version of Gamora now exists in the present-day main MCU timeline. This version of Gamora never knew Peter, as evidenced by their brief but tense encounter in Endgame. The end of that film shows Peter looking for her after she fled once Thanos was defeated.
She is now confirmed to rejoin the Guardians, but there is a lot of uncertainty over whether her and Peter's romantic flame will reignite since the formative events in their previous relationship were not experienced by this version of Gamora. Despite Peter's pining, the new Gamora may not reciprocate his feelings, or if she does, they may be forced to sacrifice themselves for one another in the gruesome battles that await them. After all, no character is completely safe from sudden death in the film since none of them are officially confirmed to appear in future MCU installments. While the tragic deaths of Iron Man and Black Widow in Avengers: Endgame are perhaps the MCU's bleakest moments thus far, the potential for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 to surpass the body count and emotional resonance of the former film may just make it Marvel's darkest outing yet.
To witness the MCU's most heart-wrenching events, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is in theaters on May 5, 2023.