Along with releasing the first, official image from the project — which features shadowed profiles of all five members of the team reuniting on the set — Marvel also released the official cast listing for the film, which confirms who’s returning and who’s joining the studio’s rapidly expanding cinematic universe in this installment. Among the new additions are the recently confirmed Kurt Russell, as well as a few lesser-known actors in unidentified roles.
Let the speculation begin!
The image and casting news were first posted on Marvel.com, which described the plot of the film as follows:
Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” continues the team’s adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage.
As far as official casting goes, just about everyone seems to be returning from the original film, with the exception of a few villains and minor characters.
The confirmed, returning cast includes Chris Pratt (Jurassic World) as Peter Quill, Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Gamora, Dave Bautista (SPECTRE) as Drax, Vin Diesel (Furious 7) as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper (American Sniper) as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead) as Yondu, Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) as Nebula, and Sean Gunn (the brother of director James Gunn) as Kraglin. Newcomers to the Marvel movie-verse who will make their debut in the film include Russell, who’s expected to play Peter Quill’s father, and Pom Klementieff (Oldboy) as the mysterious alien Mantis. Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby) and Chris Sullivan (The Drop) will play unidentified roles in the film.
Written and directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 is currently filming in the relatively new U.S. location of legendary production facility Pinewood Studios, which is in Atlanta, Georgia. The American version of the famed British production facility only recently opened its doors, with 2014’s Ant-Man becoming the first movie to shoot there.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 is scheduled to hit theaters May 5, 2017.
