Director James Gunn recently revealed that at the beginning of creating 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, a former Marvel Studios/Disney executive wasn't sure why they hired Bradley Cooper to voice Rocket Raccoon if he wasn't going to sound like the actor does typically.Gunn shared the behind the scenes take on Twitter, posting the following, "One exec - who is no longer with Marvel Studios/Disney - saw an early cut & said, "Why did we pay money for Bradley Cooper if he doesn’t even sound like Bradley Cooper!?"
"I was like, we hired him because he’s a great ACTOR. That’s the point! He’s creating a CHARACTER!" Gunn added. The creator shared this information after a fan asked the director online how Bradley Cooper was cast for the role as it seemed like an unlikely pick for an actor who hadn't done much voiceover work previously.
In a prior interview, Cooper also revealed that at one point Rocket almost had a cockney accent. The creative team ultimately leaned into Cooper's approach of Rocket sounding like "this sort of other guy from the city," which matches Rocket's now-signature gruff tone and voice. Cooper will continue to voice Rocket Raccoon in Marvel Cinematic Universe's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Rocket Raccoon's character originated in Marvel Preview #7, created by writer Bill Mantlo and artist Keith Giffen. His character would go on to receive his own series and became a prominent member of 2008's revived Guardians of the Galaxy comic series and beyond. Rocket currently stars in writer Al Ewing's Guardians of the Galaxy comic run, where he continues to cause trouble and outrun bullets.
Although Gunn is still working on the third Guardians of the Galaxy film in the MCU, it was recently announced during Disney's Investor Day 2020 event that James Gunn also wrote and directed a Guardians-themed holiday special that will premiere sometime within 2022.
Gunn wrote and directed the first two films in the franchise, Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. He also served as an executive producer on the two Avengers films in which his Guardians appeared, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Written and directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set to begin filming in February 2021. Its current release date is targeted for 2023.
Source:Â Twitter