What is the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 release date? The final movie in the trilogy has been in the works for a number of years, having a rocky journey to the big screen. Now, the wait for the final instalment of the MCU trilogy is almost over, but between Guardians 2 and Guardians 3, it’s fair to say a lot has happened.
First of all, the MCU has whizzed through Phase 4, heading straight for Phase 5, with the shockwaves of Infinity War and Thanos’ tyranny still being felt across the galaxy despite most lives being restored. Gamora (Zoe Saldana), for instance, is now dead — but also isn’t. When adoptive father Thanos killed her, it looked like that was it for the character, until a Variant the Guardians met while travelling back in time urged her to help them, which she did, before running away.
And then there’s the Guardians’ appearance in the fourth Thor movie, as well as their starring role in the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday special in late 2022. It’s high time you kept an eye on the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 release date, because it’s just around the bend now.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 release date
The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 release date is May 5 2023. Volume 3 was initially meant to be released on May 1, 2020, but a combination of factors — including Gunn’s firing-and-rehiring, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Gunn’s work on DC Universe projects like Peacemaker and Suicide Squad led to the film’s release date being pushed back.
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Filming for the science fiction movie finally began in November 2021 and wrapped in May 2022. Now that there’s just post-production to deal with, the road to Guardians 3 should be a lot more plain sailing: after all, it was announced all the way back in 2017, so we’ve been waiting long enough!
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 trailer
The first Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 trailer debuted in December 2022. Besides showing us the team back in action, we get our first proper look at Will Poulter as Adam Warlock.
As the final chapter in Gunn’s trilogy, this teases some heartbreak and possible closure as the team faces up to their legacy. No massive hints are given as to what that looks like, but as always, it seems like they manage by the skin of their teeth. A second trailer then dropped on February 12.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 cast
All of the main Guardians crew — including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, etc. — are returning as part of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 cast.
A couple of new faces will make an appearance as well, including Will Poulter, who’s set to play Adam Warlock, a popular character from the comics who is created by Ayesha to defeat the Guardians once and for all.
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Chukwudi Iwuji, who previously worked with James Gunn on Peacemaker, has also been cast as the new Marvel villain, the deadly High Evolutionary.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, however, Iwuji described his character as “extremely powerful”, and one of “the most complex characters we’ve seen in the freaking Marvel universe.”
Who’s in the Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 cast?
- Chris Pratt as Star-Lord
- Dave Bautista as Drax
- Karen Gillan as Nebula
- Bradley Cooper as Rocket
- Vin Diesel as Groot
- Pom Klementieff as Mantis
- Zoe Saldana as Gamora
- Sylvester Stallone as Stakar
- Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha
- Will Poulter as Adam Warlock
- Chukwudi Iwuji as High Evolutionary
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 plot
The post-credit scenes of Guardians 2 gave a good idea of what we can expect to happen in the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 plot. One of those scenes confirmed that Adam Warlock was coming, with Ayesha standing in front of a golden cocoon, plotting her revenge on the Guardians before declaring, “I think I will call him Adam.”
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The official synopsis of Guardians 3 is as follows:
“Our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere. But it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life – a mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.”
In an interview with Deadline, Gunn explained that he always intended to finish Rocket’s character arc in the third movie.
We also know, from the footage shown at Comic-Con, that the time-displaced Gamora from Endgame will reappear, as will a baby Rocket (who apparently looks adorable), and the film is apparently a bit of a tear-jerker.
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As the final chapter in the Guardians’ story, Gunn previously teased to EW that the film was “pretty heavy, actually.” He said, “It’s a heavier story, so it’s an emotional process to go through.” So, it sounds like you should get your tissues ready.
Guardians 3 will be in theatres on May 5, 2023. Until then, why not learn more about The Marvels release date, or the Ms Marvel season 2 release date? We’ve also got a guide to all the new movies coming in 2023.
