Spoiler Warning: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3It has been nine years since audiences first met the Guardians of the Galaxy in their MCU debut. Now their story has come to an end with the release ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. While being part of a long-running franchise like the MCU means things don’t ever truly end, the marketing forGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3really played up the fact that this would be the final adventure for this team of heroes. The film also marks the final MCU film in that James Gunn will have any involvement, as he is now the new co-head of DC Studios and is currently writing and directingSuperman: Legacy.
The release ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3marks the end of an era. The movie signifies a satisfying conclusion for the Guardians of the Galaxy, but it also leaves the door open for more adventures. Here is a breakdown of what the ending and the two post-credit scenes mean for theGuardians of the Galaxy and the MCU franchise in general.
The Original Guardians of the Galaxy Go Their Separate Ways
Despite all the pre-release hype, one of the biggest shocks forGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3was that no member of the team died. Everyone not only lived, but this found family had one last moment to share together. Drax and Nebula have decided to stay behind on Knowhere to take care of the kids and animals they saved from the High Evolutionary, creating a new society. Gamora goes off to join the Ravagers, forging a new path apart from her original timeline counterpart.
Mantis decides to leave and go off on her own to find herself. Meanwhile, Star-Lord decides to return to Earth and reunite with his grandfather. Star-Lord officially appoints Rocket the new leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, paying off a joke inAvengers: Infinity Warwhere Thor assumed Rocket was the captain. The ending provides a sense of closure for everyone. Fans can now assume they will have whole lives that will continue on and occasionally may return for bit parts, so audiences can check in on them, but them being the focus is over for now.
A New Team of Guardians
The first mid-credit scene shows Rocket Raccoon leadinga new team of Guardians. The members include a much bigger Groot, Cosmo the Space Dog, Kraglin, and three new recruits. The first is Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock. Warlock had been an antagonist to the Guardians for the first part of the movie, but just like Yondu and Nebula, this former foe has now joined the team. Warlock is joined by his pet, Blurp, which he acquired from the Ravagers.
Related:Guardians of the Galaxy: Who Is Adam Warlock?
The other new member is one of the children the High Evolutionary was experimenting on. The character is played by Kai Zen and, in the credits and film, is identified as Phyla. This indicates she is the MCU version of the Marvel hero Phyla-Vell. Phyla-Vell was created by Peter David and Paul Azaceta inCaptain MarvelVolume 5 #16. In the comics, she is the daughter of the original Captain Marvel.
In the MCU, she appears to have no connection to Mar-Vell and is instead an experiment created by the High Evolutionary. Phyla-Vell is a pretty prominent character to introduce in a mid-credit scene, and there is a good chance she will have a big future in the MCU, be it an appearance inThe Marvels, the eventualYoung Avengers, or even a newGuardians of the Galaxyfilm.
Mantis Might Be a Major Part of the Multiverse Saga
One of the most interesting plot points left fromGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. is Mantis leaving to find her own path. Mantis was introduced inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2and had minor roles in bothAvengers: Infinity WarandEndgame. She was given a much more significant role inThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday SpecialandVol. 3,and it feels like there is still more to tell about her character.
In the comics, Mantis is a rather important character. She is known as the Celestial Madonna. While the Celestial Madonna has no relation to thegiant Celestials in the comics, Mantis is the daughter of Ego, which makes her half-Celestial. She is prefaced to give birth to an alien known as Sequoia, who is the Celestial Messiah, a savior to an alien race known as the Cotati, and a significant character in the recent Marvel ComicsEmpyrestoryline.
Mantis' arc is about finding a life for herself, so it is unlikely they will go with having her be the mother to an important figure, but her status as part Celestial could hint at some importance. In the comics, she was kidnapped by Kang the Conqueror, which could play out in the Multiverse Saga. Mantis' storyline presents many exciting possibilities for where her story can go and feels like one with plenty more to tell.
The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return
While all the previous movies have said, “The Guardians of the Galaxy Will Return,“Vol. 3changes things up and instead says, “The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return.” The end-credit scenefeatures Peter Quillhaving breakfast with his grandfather. It appears Star-Lord will be staying on Earth for the foreseeable future. This leaves the door open for Star-Lord to return. Unlike stars Zoe Saldaña and Dave Bautista, who said this would be their last MCU appearance, Chris Pratt has said he is open to returning.
Related:How the Guardians of the Galaxy Owning Knowhere Could Affect the MCU
Now the door appears to be open for Star-Lord to appear. What the next journey of his story is remains to be seen. He could always reunite with Rocket’s new Guardians, or he could become an Earth-based hero. He could become an associate of the Avengers like Sam Wilson’s Captain America or Bruce Banner’s Hulk. He also could work closely with organizations like S.W.O.R.D. to give them details on alien life. He likely can inform people that the giant head in the Indiana Ocean is a Celestial. Similar to Tony Stark inIron Man 3, just because theGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy is over doesn’t mean Star-Lord’s story is. It could be the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
Where Could the Guardians Return
While James Gunn did say this would mark the end of theGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy, he did also say it would be the end of his version. Similar to the Avengers, the idea of the team can and will live on in some form with another creative team. What Marvel has planned for them remains to be seen.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Specialmid-credit scene ended with Rocket saying they would need to do another holiday special, indicating the team’s future might be inone-off Disney+ Special Presentations. The various characters could also appear in supporting projects. Similar to the Avengers brand, Marvel could wait a few years and announce a new film with an exciting roster. It could include many of the characters seen in the mid-credit scene as well as some additional faces. Monica Rambeau, various members of the Eternals, or even Thor and his adopted daughter Love, could be part of a new Guardians of the Galaxy team.
