Karen Gillan & Pom Klementieff Interview: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Peter Quill is mourning the loss of Gamora as the rest of the team builds a new life on Knowhere. When a threat from Rocket’s past returns, the Guardians will need to work together to save their teammate and confront this evil. However, if they fail, this could be the end of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 stars MCU veterans Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Sean Gunn, and Maria Bakalova. Joining the cast are Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary and Will Poulter as Adam Warlock. All three Guardians of the Galaxy movies are written and directed by James Gunn.

Screen Rant spoke with Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Gillan teased Nebula’s healing from her traumas and building a new relationship with Gamora, while Klementieff discussed how Mantis has evolved since joining the Guardians and the relationship Mantis has with Nebula.

Karen Gillan & Pom Klementieff on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Screen Rant: Mantis and Nebula have suffered a huge trauma from their fathers but have handled it very differently. What has been that journey of healing for both of your characters?

Karen Gillan: For Nebula, we’ve really seen her go on a journey of healing. In the first film, she was very bitter and tormented, and then gradually she’s evolving and developing compassion and forming a relationship with her sister Gamora. In this movie, we’re starting to see her actually be able to help other people heal, which is really important stage of the healing process. So, that was quite nice.

Pom Klementieff: By being an empath, the beautiful message also is that you can heal through love and through connecting with others and, as you said, the chosen family. Which is a very important theme and a beautiful message.

What have your characters learned from each other?

Pom Klementieff: The dynamic between both of the characters is so different from our dynamic in real life, because we’re such really good friend. We never argue

Karen Gillan: And all they do is argue! I think that Nebula has learned empathy from Mantis. I think that she probably didn’t have much of that because she’s been too wrapped up in self-defense mode.

Pom Klementieff: I think Mantis also tells Nebula things that she needs to hear too.

Karen, Nebula lost a version of Gamora, but he’s gained a new one. How is she handling that loss, and can you talk to me about their new relationship dynamic?

Karen Gillan: They haven’t really interesting dynamic now; even the way they greet each other is kind of hilarious. I won’t give anything away, but they’ve switched places in a way. Nebula is now the more compassionate, evolved one and Gamora is the crazy, badass one who’s willing to kill anyone to do what she needs to do. It’s really interesting to see that dynamic play out. But they’re still sisters. I think, no matter what, they still care about each other deeply.

How has Mantis evolved since joining the Guardians of the Galaxy and telling Peter that she’s his sister?

Pom Klementieff: She’s gained in self-confidence, for sure. She’s kind of the glue that keeps the Guardians together, by being an empath and caring for the others. And also, she gets to kick ass! She evolves, she’s unapologetic, and she stands up for herself. I mean, there’s so many new things that you see in Mantis, you know?

We get to see your characters as fully part of the Guardians this time around. What’s your favorite dynamic with one of the other Guardians that you get to play with?

Pom Klementieff: It was fun for us to play. We finally have scenes together; we didn’t really have scenes before. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we’re not really interacting with each other that much. It was really nice to get to do that, and to get to do these fiery scenes where we get mad.

Karen Gillan: Yeah! And we got to improvise a bunch. He gave us a lot of freedom to just come up with lines and shout at each other, and just call each other names.

Pom Klementieff: I got to see also the funny side of Karen, because she’s so funny. And to bring that to Nebula even more, it was amazing.

Karen, Nebula has such a great redemption arc and has found a family on Knowhere. What’s been the most surprising part of her journey for you?

Karen Gillan: She’s just been so interesting to me this whole time. I think it’s probably this version of her, and finding that funnier, lighter side of her that I didn’t know was in there. It’s just been a really unexpected turn, but it’s also really fun to find a new way to play the character, keep it fresh, and see her develop a little bit more of a personality that maybe was suppressed because of her traumatic upbringing.

I love Mantis, and her superpower is amazing. It really is emotions, not only within the fights, but also within the team. Can you talk to me about why it’s so important to show that side of being a superhero?

Pom Klementieff: I mean, that’s beautiful. It’s so important to have empathy. There’s a lot of people in this world that lack empathy, and it’s beautiful to show that side in superhero movies too. Because we see a lot of also female characters who are strong and badass and confident, which is great, but it’s nice to show also another side that is also softer and more caring.

Also, she’s super weird, which is so funny to do and I think funny to watch as well. She brings a lot of comedy, which is cool to do also as as an actress. It’s not just a guy who’s funny, right? It’s both.

This is the final chapter of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and it really has felt almost like a comic book story arc where he got to write his trilogy. Can you talk to me about what the vibe was on set, knowing that this was going to be the final Guardians for all of you together?

Pom Klementieff: I mean, you were not thinking about that all the time, thank God. We started the movie really so excited to be back together with such a beautiful script; so happy to be back.

Karen Gillan: Yeah. Then we shot for six months, so we weren’t necessarily feeling like it was the end. But then…

Pom Klementieff: It was more towards the end that it started dawning on us, so you felt a little bit sad, for sure.

In the trailer, we get this tease with Peter and Nebula. What would Peter Quill and Nebula together look like to you?

Karen Gillan: I actually could really see a His Girl Friday [for them]. Quippy back-and-forth, witty banter, and bickering.

Pom Klementieff: Are you pitching a rom-com? That’d be so fun. Can I be in it too?

Karen Gillan: Sure, yeah, come on in.

Pom Klementieff: Will you be mean to me again?

Karen Gillan: Not the rom-com. New rules!

Pom Klementieff: I would love for Mantis to wear a beanie. In rom-coms, it’s always Winter time or Fall. So, a beanie, with her antennas going through the beanie. And will you have a cute outfit for Nebula?

Karen Gillan: Maybe Nebula gets her arm stuck in a little grate on the floor or something, and then Star-Lord has to get right, and then they have a meet-cute. [She has on], like, a little cocktail dress. But with the arm out.

You guys have been a part of Guardians of the Galaxy for a while now. What lessons have you learned that you’re going to take with you on future projects?

Karen Gillan: I’ve become a better actor working with James Gunn. He’s just so incredibly supportive and guides you in all the ways that you need.

Pom Klementieff: He’s an incredible director, and he told us that he’s going to direct us in different ways; whatever we need. So, he’s not going to speak to Karen the same way he does with me or with the other actors. He has such a strong sense of psychology, and he’s so caring, and also an empath. He knows; he feels you, so he re-adjusts.

About Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

In the final chapter of the trilogy, the Guardians of the Galaxy are adjusting to life on Knowhere while Peter Quill is still reeling from the loss of Gamora. When a new threat from Rocket’s past resurfaces, Peter rallies the Guardians to save one of their own and once again protect the universe. However, failure could mean the end of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Check out our other Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 interviews here:

• James Gunn & Chris Pratt
• Chukwudi Iwuji & Will Poulter
• Sean Gunn
• Maria Bakalova
• Nathan Fillion