How Will The Guardians Of The Galaxy Leave The MCU?

As the end of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy approaches, the main topic of conversation moves to how the Guardians will leave the MCU. James Gunn is now the new head of DC Studios, but for the meantime, he has his creative hands in both camps, at least until the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. There was a time when it looked like Gunn wouldn’t be able to finish his Guardians story, so it’s exciting to see how it all ends.

From the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 trailer, it looks set to be the biggest and most emotional story of the trilogy. Furthermore, as it is the end of a trilogy, it is not yet clear who from the cast will continue on after this movie. The Guardians have been the least connected characters in terms of crossovers in the grand scheme of things, so their appearance in future MCU movies is not guaranteed. James Gunn has already said this will be the end for him with the Guardians, and with how loyal a lot of the cast is to Gunn, it could be their last as well.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Will End The Current Team

If one thing is certain, it is that GotG 3 will be the end of the current team of “A-holes.” Gunn has said for a while that the end of the trilogy also means the end for this team of Guardians. Whether that means none of them will be back is not clear and more than likely won’t be clear until after the release of the movie.

As things stand, Thor and Captain America are the only non-crossover MCU projects to get a fourth movie, so while it’s not impossible, it does look unlikely that there will be a Vol. 4 any time soon. That’s not to say that even though the Guardians team is ending, certain characters like Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord could pop up in other MCU movies without the rest of the team. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars seem the most likely options for the remaining cast to show up in, but time will tell.

Which Guardians Of The Galaxy Will Die In Vol. 3?

Rocket’s story looks set to be the driving force of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the trailer even hinting at his origins. Out of everyone, Rocket looks the most likely not to make it out of this movie. Gunn could land more heartbreak, and more than one character could die by the time the credits roll. It has already been confirmed this will be Dave Bautista’s final appearance as Drax, so it’s not impossible that he could be killed off as well. As he is the only actor to confirm his character’s exit, it could be a distraction to make an unexpected death more impactful.

New characters like Cosmo and Adam Warlock are likely the safest as they will have only just been introduced. What that means for the rest of the Guardians like Groot and Nebula is up in the air. Killing off Peter Quill would be a massive statement and have a huge impact on this film and the entire MCU. He has been the emotional core of the Guardians team since the beginning and would be the most likely character to continue his story after GotG 3 later down the line in other projects. If James Gunn wants to make this movie truly tragic, that might be the path he takes.

Which Guardians Of The Galaxy Could Continue After Vol. 3?

With such a successful franchise, it would be very unlikely that all the Guardians will bow out in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Especially with two Avengers films coming, some of the cast will more than likely continue in the MCU. Depending on Star-Lord’s fate, he is the obvious choice as the leader, but it is the side characters that have the most chance of returning. The likes of Mantis, who finally had her moment in the spotlight in the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, are perfect for bit-parts in other MCU movies if they need a connection to the Marvel cosmic universe.

With Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock being introduced in Vol. 3, it would be a smart bet that he will return sooner rather than later. After waiting until the trilogy’s final part to introduce the powerful magic user, he could play a major part in the upcoming Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. Cosmo, who was seen in the original Guardians of the Galaxy, but now in an upgraded role played by Maria Bakalova, could be a fun addition in small roles across future MCU movies as well.

Most Likely Options For The Guardians Cast’s Final Movies (Besides Vol. 3)

Besides Dave Bautista, it isn’t certain that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be everyone’s final movie. Drax won’t be the only one to bow out in the film, but with how the MCU works, certain characters are sure to pop in down the line. If Thor 5 happens, that could be a nice place for Chris Pratt to make an appearance as Star-Lord, showing how he and Thor have both changed since the last time they met in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Deadpool 3 could be a perfect film for some of the Guardians cast to make their final appearance, whether that’s for a joke or an extended cameo. With how silly the Guardians can get, a Deadpool film’s tone could be ideal for the remaining cast. But it is hard to dismiss either Avengers: The Kang Dynasty or Avengers: Secret Wars as the obvious answer.

These films have the potential to be even bigger than Avengers: Endgame, and with that in mind, it would make sense that Marvel would want to use every character at their disposal. Depending on how connected the two films are, the remaining Guardians could carry over from Kang Dynasty to Secret Wars, or certain characters could be in one film and other characters appear in the next. If not Vol. 3, the Avengers films look like the next best exit for the Guardians.

Will The Guardians Line-Up Change After GotG Vol. 3?

Just because this is the end of the current trilogy and James Gunn’s involvement doesn’t mean that this is the end of the Guardians for certain. There is a possibility that by the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, instead of the whole team leaving, the line-up could change. This would make sense if Marvel still wants the Guardians to continue as a group moving forward rather than just as separate characters showing up in other movies.

If Vol. 3 is the final appearance of Peter Quill, then Adam Warlock joining the MCU could mean he’s the next leader of a new team out to guard the galaxy. New characters that have not yet been introduced into the MCU could also be part of the new team, like Nova, Major Victory, and Quasar. This all depends on whether Marvel is interested in making Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4, and it won’t be clear if that is part of the plan for some time.

While it’s not certain how every member of the Guardians will leave the MCU, it is clear that Vol. 3 will be a definitive end to this chapter of the team. Marvel took a big risk with the first Guardians of the Galaxy, and it is a risk that has more than paid off. Whether they die, leave, or stay on to fight in the MCU’s future, James Gunn and his team look to have pulled out all the stops for the finale of the most unlikely franchise.