Maybe I’m in the minority, but I love Rocket Raccoon. A talking raccoon who was tortured and turned into a weapon, who is cognizant of the life he’s forced to lead because of those who created him? Sign me up!
I do have some sort of satisfaction in the fact that Rocket is the character that James Gunn has consistently talked about the most. So imagine my shock and awe when Gunn talked about Rocket’s character arc coming to an end in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Suddenly, I was very terrified that I wouldn’t be seeing much more of my furry weaponized fave.
The quote is simple enough:
”When you asked me what was saddest for me when I thought it was gone—and anybody at Marvel can tell you—it’s this very strange and attached relationship to Rocket. Rocket is me, he really is, even if that sounds narcissistic. Groot is like my dog. I love Groot in a completely different way. I relate to Rocket and I feel compassion for Rocket, but I also feel like his story has not been completed. He has an arc that started in the first movie, continued into the second and goes through Infinity War and Endgame, and then I was set to really finish that arc in Guardians 3. That was a big loss to me—not being able to finish that story—though I was comforted by the fact that they were still planning to use my script.”
While I openly admit to crying over this, I do have to say that it frightens me. Sure, I’m being selfish and feeling this fear simply because I’m still crying over Avengers: Endgame, but also, what are the Guardians without Rocket Raccoon? Sure, this could just be premature, but also, what does it mean that Gunn is “comforted” by his own story for Rocket Raccoon?
There are rumors out there that Rocket Raccoon will find love in Lady Lylla, a sentient otter from the same planet as Rocket who he has worked with before, so maybe the conclusion of Rocket’s arc is just that he gets to have his happiness. However, with the track record of most of the characters who “leave” the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it doesn’t look too great for Rocket if he isn’t going to be involved any longer.
Whatever actually happens, I just beg that James Gunn lets my Rocket Raccoon live. I can’t go through more deaths.
(via Deadline, image: Marvel Entertainment)
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