After several years in development, audiences are finally getting a first look at one of the shorts in Marvel's I Am Groot series, which is set to screen at select showings of Thor: Love and Thunder.
On social media, the El Capitan Theatre announced "The El Capitan Theatre will be exclusively playing the all-new [Marvel Studios]' I Am Groot short 'Magnum Opus' July 18-24 before select Thor: Love and Thunder shows." This is one of the five original shorts composing the I Am Groot series on Disney+.
The series itself is scheduled for release on the streaming service on Aug. 10. The series was announced in 2020, with Marvel Studios teasing the introduction of several unique new characters. Few details have been released since then, though it is known actor Vin Diesel returned to voice Groot, as he did throughout the Guardians of the Galaxy films, as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
However, Marvel Cinematic Universe fans should not necessarily consider all of these shorts canon to the larger franchise. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn previously explained, "[I Am Groot episodes] are animated shorts so not necessarily part of the Guardians saga... They're canon to themselves, I'd think." While Gunn is serving as executive producer on the show, the series was directed by Kirsten Lepore.
According to Marvel Studios, the shorts will not explore the fan-favorite Guardian's adventures following Endgame or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, rather it will follow the adventures of Baby Groot. It's currently unknown if any of the other Guardians of the Galaxy will make an appearance across the shorts.
After Avengers: Endgame, Groot most recently appeard in Thor: Love and Thunder, still fighting alongside Rocket Raccoon and the Guardians of the Galaxy, whose numbers briefly include Thor himself. Director Taika Waititi recently revealed the team originally played a larger role in the film. He explained, "The plan was always to have [the Guardians of the Galaxy] in the beginning and then move on... Because they have their own movie. There was talk about having them come back at the end... The thing is that happens in every movie. No more. No more of the cavalry coming at the end. So we shelved that idea. We just wanted Jane to come in at the end."
Thor: Love and Thunder is playing in theaters now.
Source: Twitter