Kevin Bacon once again performed his solo from Marvel Studios' recently released The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special live.Director James Gunn shared a video of Bacon and alt-country band the Old 97's on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, all dressed in festive holiday gear to match the song choice, "Here It Is Christmastime" from the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
In The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Bacon played a fictionalized version of himself whom Mantis and Drax seek out on Earth as a Christmas present. After learning of Peter Quill/Star Lord's strained relationship with Christmas, the duo settled on kidnapping Bacon in hopes that meeting him will cheer their teammate up. Despite frequently referencing him by name in the first Guardians of the Galaxy, Gunn acknowledged the irony of casting Bacon in a Christmas-themed special, as the actor isn't really a Christmas fan himself.
Gunn also spoke out about getting the Old 97's -- one of his personal favorite bands -- to cameo in the Holiday Special. After composing the lyrics for its opening number 'I Don't Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here)' with lead singer Rhett Miller, Gunn proposed that Miller's band play it in-universe. As he recalled, "I was like, 'Why don't you guys play this alien band? Why don't you come on set and act?' And he was like, 'Okay.' And then we took a previous song that they had recorded, and they re-recorded it with Kevin Bacon for the end of the show."
James Gunn's Last Guardians of the Galaxy Film
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special marks Gunn's penultimate Marvel project and final entry of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 4. His last Marvel Studios film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, will premiere on May 5, 2023.
An official trailer for Vol. 3 recently dropped at Brazil Comic Con, previewing Rocket Raccoon's origin story, the Guardians' classic comic-accurate uniforms, and their battle against new antagonist High Evolutionary. The trailer also offered a first look at Marvel characters like Will Poulter's Adam Warlock and Rocket's space otter girlfriend Lylla.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is currently streaming on Disney+.
Source: Twitter