Michael Rosenbaum and Sylvester Stallone are both expecting to reprise their Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 roles at some point in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Discussing the potential return of the first iteration of Guardians, Rosenbaum told ComicBook.com, "When James told me about it, he says, 'Hey, you know this is something that could be... It's not a huge part in the first one, but you're in the end credits and there's a good chance you're gonna come back.' So I was like, 'Of course, yeah, let's do it.'" Recalling a conversation with Stallone about the Guardians 3000, he added, "He's like, 'You're asking me, like I know?' I'm like, 'You're Stallone.' He goes, 'Look, we're in the credits, why wouldn't they bring us back?' I go, 'That's what I'm saying.' He's like, 'I'm not James Gunn, James can do what he wants but look, if I was James Gunn, I'd put us in the movie.' I'm like, 'Thanks, Stallone, thank you.'"
Among the sequel's new additions were Rosenbaum's Martinex and Stallone's Stakar Ogord, with a last-minute reveal of the other original Guardians of the Galaxy. However, while some took Rosenbaum's comments as a tease that the original Guardians could return for the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gunn was quick to shoot down any speculation. "For the record, I think [Michael Rosenbaum] was simply saying that the plan was for them to come back in the MCU at some point - not necessarily in Vol 3," Gunn tweeted.
While both Martinex Stakar played into the arc of Michael Rooker's Yondu, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2's finale featured the original Guardians banding together to wave off their fallen comrade. The team was a part of the first lineup from the comics and also included Ving Rhames as Charlie-27 and Michelle Yeoh as Aleta Ogord. Elsewhere, there was the CGI Krugarr and Miley Cyrus lending her vocals to the character of Mainframe.
Even if the like of Stakar and Martinex return to the MCU outside Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, it might not be under Gunn. The director has doubled-down on the third movie rounding off his trilogy and claimed he won't be back for a possible Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4. Either way, both Rosenbaum and Stallone are confident that fans haven't seen the last of the OG Guardians of the Galaxy.
Written and directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 currently has no release date. The film is expected to begin production in February 2021.