Who is in the Guardians of the Galaxy cast? The rag-tag group led by Peter Quill may be a mixed bunch, but we love them all the same, and we’re here to get to know the actors behind the characters a little better.
The rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe gave lesser-known comic book characters the chance to shine on the big screen, and the Guardians of the Galaxy were the main benefactors of this. From the first movie starring these MCU characters, we’ve loved them. The superhero movie world is a far richer place thanks to the Guardians of the Galaxy cast, so let’s get acquainted.
The main Guardians of the Galaxy cast list:
- Chris Pratt as Peter Quill (AKA Star-Lord)
- Zoë Saldaña as Gamora
- Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer
- Vin Diesel as Groot
- Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon
- Karen Gillan as Nebula
- Pom Klementieff as Mantis
- Michael Rooker as Yondu
- Sean Gunn as Kraglin
- Kurt Russell as Ego
- Will Poulter as Adam Warlock
Chris Pratt as Peter Quill (AKA Star-Lord)
Peter Quill may have been plucked from Earth at a young age, but Chris Pratt is firmly on this planet and keeps busy with a cavalcade of fun flicks. However, his career well and truly took off on the small screen, appearing as Andy Dwyer in one of the best comedy series ever made, Parks and Rec.
On the big screen, Pratt has appeared in Moneyball, led the Jurassic World trilogy as Owen Grady, and also uses his voice in various animated movies like The Lego Movie and Onward.
You will have also heard Pratt’s voice as part of the Super Mario Bros movie cast. If you need more, check out our list of the best Chris Pratt movies. As for his future in the MCU, we think he’s gone, at least for a while.
Zoë Saldaña as Gamora
Chances are, you’ve seen Zoë Saldaña in something outside of the Guardians of the Galaxy. How do we know that? Well, she’s been in four of the top ten highest-grossing movies of all time. Not only does she pop up in Avengers Infinity War and Endgame, but she also stars in the Avatar movies.
Saldaña plays Neytiri in the Avatar 2 cast, reprising her role from the original movie. If that wasn’t enough, she’s also one of the leads in the rebooted Star Trek movies, and just like Pratt, has lent her vocal talents to various animated movies, like The Book of Life, Missing Link, and Vivo. If you still want more, here’s our list of the best Zoë Saldaña movies.
We’re excited to see her again in Avatar 3.
Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer
Bautista started his career as a wrestler, but just like Dwayne Johnson, he has forged a very strong career in the movies. Within the Guardians team, Bautista brings the comedy as the overly literal, very enthusiastic Drax the Destroyer, but away from Marvel, he’s a pretty serious actor.
He had the privilege of playing a James Bond villain in Spectre, popped up for a small but significant scene in Blade Runner 2049, and is also a key figure in the Dune franchise. More recently, Bautista was in Netflix’s Glass Onion, and one of his new movies saw him play a villain in M. Night Shyamalan flick Knock at the Cabin.
You can read our Knock at the Cabin review here to see how he fared and find out why we think Dave Bautista is the best wrestler turned actor around.
Vin Diesel as Groot
Believe it or not, the voice behind those grunts of “I am Groot” is all Vin Diesel, the king of the Fast and Furious franchise. He even has his own version of the scripts for the Guardians movies so that he can add the right intonations to his utterances of those famous three words.
Away from being a walking tree, Diesel is the leader of the Fast and Furious cast, where he plays the character Dom Toretto. He’s also starred in various action movies like xXx, Bloodshot, and Riddick, but he also had a fun role in The Pacifier. See him next when the Fast and Furious 11 release date comes around.
Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon
Another one now where you have to listen very closely to the voice to work out who’s playing the character, and this time it’s none other than Bradley Cooper, who plays the lovable rogue Rocket. Rocket is sticking around, so expect to see him in the next Marvel movies in order featuring the new Guardians.
Cooper has performed very well in dramas like Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and Joy — funnily enough, all alongside Jennifer Lawrence. In 2021, Cooper appeared in one of the best Paul Thomas Anderson movies, Licorice Pizza, and Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley.
The actor has also turned his hand to directing, stepping behind the camera for the brilliant musical A Star is Born. And if that wasn’t enough, Cooper was Oscar-nominated for his role in Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper.
Karen Gillan as Nebula
Nebula may have begun life as a bad guy in the MCU, but actor Karen Gillan has taken on many likable roles in her career. She started as a companion on Doctor Who, assisting Matt Smith during his run in the TARDIS.
Since then, Gillan’s biggest role is in the Jumanji franchise, where she plays Martha. More recently, she has appeared in the thriller Gunpowder Milkshake and the 2022 pandemic movie The Bubble. Find out more about our appreciation for Nebula with our feature on her character arc in Guardians 3.
Pom Klementieff as Mantis
Mantis joined up with the Guardians in their second adventure and has become a mainstay of the team now. Actor Pom Klementieff is a relative newcomer to the big times, too, but has some fairly substantial roles to her name already.
She appeared in the American remake of the Korean movie Oldboy, but the less said about that Spike Lee movie, the better. Since then, she’s had roles in Ingrid Goes West, the Safdie Brothers’ Uncut Gems, and the anthology series Black Mirror.
Also, Klementieff starred as Paris in Mission Impossible 7 and kicked ass while doing it (We interviewed her about it!). You’ll likely catch her next when Mission Impossible 8 rolls around.
Michael Rooker as Yondu
Ah, Yondu, the Mary Poppins of the Marvel world, how we miss you! The blue-faced, grumpy leader of the Ravagers is played by Michael Rooker, who’s popped up in some of the best movies of all time without you even realizing.
Rooker started out in the ’80s movies Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and Mississippi Burning. He appeared in Days of Thunder, and one of the best movies based on a true story, JFK. He was also a major player in The Walking Dead, appearing as Merle Dixon throughout several seasons.
More recently, Rooker popped up in the DC movie The Suicide Squad for his old pal Gunn. If you’re curious whether Yondu is in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, we have you covered.
Sean Gunn as Kraglin
Former Ravager and Yondu’s right-hand man, Kraglin, has appeared in all three Guardians of the Galaxy movies. He’s known Peter since he was a child, and while their relationship was rocky for a while, now he’s a Guardian too!
And in case you’re wondering, Sean Gunn is related to James Gunn. He’s his younger brother and has also appeared in some of the best TV series, like Gilmore Girls and Bones. Also, Sean was the on-set reference for Rocket Raccoon when Cooper couldn’t be.
Kurt Russell as Ego
Introduced in Vol. 2 as Peter’s father, the legendary Kurt Russell was brought in as Ego, ‘The Living Planet’. Ego is a celestial being who experiments with life. First appearing friendly and warm, there’s a bit more to him than that.
Russell is a class act, having starred in horror masterpieces like The Things, John Carpenter’s brilliant Big Trouble in Little China, and more recently The Christmas Chronicles with his wife Goldie Hawn. Russell was the ideal 80s action hero, with none of the usual narcissism. His himboism in Big Trouble is absolutely unmatched.
Will Poulter as Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock may have only appeared in the final Guardians movie, but the golden boy made quite the impression. A villainous figure at first, Adam eventually sees the light and is a new team member in the next generation of the Guardians that we saw in Vol. 3’s post-credit scene.
Will Poulter got his big break in the comedy movie We’re the Millers, but he’s been capturing a lot of attention for his recent work in The Bear season 2. As for upcoming Marvel movies, if there are more Guardians of the Galaxy movies, we’re certain he’ll be in the lineup.
Everyone in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1
Here’s everyone in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, from the main players to the supporting cast:
- Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord
- Wyatt Oleff as Young Peter Quill
- Zoe Saldana as Gamora
- Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer
- Vin Diesel as Groot
- Krystian Godlewski as Groot
- Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon (voice)
- Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser
- Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta
- Karen Gillan as Nebula
- Djimon Hounsou as Korath the Pursuer
- John C. Reilly as Denarian Rhomann Dey
- Glenn Close as Nova Prime Irani Rael
- Benicio del Toro as Taneleer Tivan/Collector
- Laura Haddock as Meredith Quill
- Sean Gunn as Kraglin Obfonteri / Rocket Raccoon
- Peter Serafinowicz as Denarian Garthan Saal
- Christopher Fairbank as Broker
- Gregg Henry as Jason Quill
- Janis Ahern as Peter Quill’s Grandmother
- Robert Firth as Doctor Fitzgibbon
- Melia Kreiling as Bereet
- Tom Proctor as Horuz
- Stan Lee as Xandarian Ladies’ Man
- Tomas Arana as Kree Ambassador
- Alexis Rodney as Moloka Dar
- Nathan Fillion as Monstrous Inmate
- Alexis Denisof as The Other
- Ophelia Lovibond as Carina
- Fred the Dog as Cosmo
- James Gunn as a Maskless Sakaaran
- Rachel Cullen as Karman-Kan
- Isabella Poynton as Duranna
- Imogen Poynton as Duranna
- Max Wrottesley as Sacrifice Nova Corpsman
- Bruce Mackinnon as Vorker
- Mikaela Hoover as Nova Prime’s Assistant
- Stephen Blackehart as Steemie Blueliver
- Laura Ortiz as Krylorian Attendant
- Seth Green as Howard the Duck (uncredited)
- Josh Brolin as Thanos (uncredited)
- Ricky Knight as Toothless (uncredited)
Everyone in the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 cast
And here is every credited person in the full Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 cast list:
- Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord
- Zoe Saldana as Gamora
- Dave Bautista as Drax
- Vin Diesel as Baby Groot (voice)
- Bradley Cooper as Rocket (voice)
- Michael Rooker as Yondu
- Karen Gillan as Nebula
- Pom Klementieff as Mantis
- Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord
- Kurt Russell as Ego
- Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha
- Chris Sullivan as Taserface
- Sean Gunn as Kraglin / On-Set Rocket
- Tommy Flanagan as Tullk
- Laura Haddock as Meredith Quill
- Aaron Schwartz as Young Ego Facial Reference
- Hannah Harlow as Sovereign Chambermaid (as Hannah Gottesman)
- Hilty Bowen as Sovereign Pilot
- Ben Browder as Sovereign Admiral
- Alex Klein as Zylak
- Luke Cook as Zylak’s Frenemy
- Evan Jones as Retch
- Joe Fria as Oblo
- Terence Rosemore as Narblik
- Jimmy Urine as Halfnut
- Stephen Blackehart as Brahl
- Steve Agee as Gef
- Blondy Baruti as Huhtar
- Richard Christy as ‘Down There!’
- Rob Zombie as Unseen Ravager (voice)
- Sierra Love as Robot Courtesan
- Kendra Carelli as Robot Courtesan
- Milynn Sarley as Robot Courtesan
- Seth Green as Howard the Duck (voice)
- Molly C. Quinn as Howard’s Date
- Michael Rosenbaum as Martinex
- Rhoda Griffis as Sneeper Madame
- Stan Lee as Watcher Informant
- David Hasselhoff as The Form of David Hasselhoff
- Mac Wells as Officer Fitzgibbon
- James Gunn Sr. as Weird Old Man
- Leota Gunn as Weird Old Man’s Mistress
- Elizabeth Ludlow as Easik Mother
- Wyatt Oleff as Young Peter Quill
- Gregg Henry as Grandpa Quill
- Damita Jane as Grandpa Quill’s Friend
- Ving Rhames as Charlie-27
- Michelle Yeoh as Aleta Ogord
- Miley Cyrus as Mainframe (voice) (uncredited)
That’s all the Guardians of the Galaxy cast now, but you can read our Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 review for the lowdown on the film. We also have guides on what’s heading our way with Marvel Phase 5 explained. We’ve also ranked the Marvel series and the best James Gunn movies of all time.
Don’t forget to check out the best Marvel villains or see why Marvel needs to learn that killing characters isn’t everything.