14 MCU characters have been confirmed to return in GOTG Volume 3. Following their cameos in Thor: Love & Thunder, the GOTG team will be reset by May 5, 2023 by The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. The Holiday Special will offer additional information on the story. Although the plot will be substantial, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will once again focus on casting with 14 MCU characters confirmed to make their return.
Main MCU Characters in GOTG 3
#1 Star-Lord aka Peter Quill
Star Lord
The premise of The Holiday Special seems to revolve around Gamora’s disappearance after Avengers: Endgame and Peter Quill’s efforts to cheer her up. Assuming the Guardians manage to cheer Peter Quill on after Gamora’s absence, he’ll likely be in a better mood for whatever Volume 3 has in store.
#2Gamora
Gamora
Gamora is perhaps the most interesting of them due to the dramatic role she played in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. This version of Gamora has no background beyond the events of Volume 1’s first act. This implies that there will be no reconciliation between Nebula and her sister or Peter Quill.
#3 Rocket
Rocket
Bradley Cooper will reprise his role as Rocket Racoon’s voice actor for the third installment. Speculation has it that Rocket will play a pivotal role in this movie. Its history has only been hinted at, but with the addition of The High Evolutionary, we can expect to hear more.
#4 Drax
Drax
Drax, played again by Dave Bautista, is one of the Guardians whose origin has been hinted at but never fully explored. He seems to have a big role in the upcoming Christmas holiday special. This may be the greatest preparation he’s had for his potential position in Volume 3 due to the amount of attention he’ll get here.
#5 Mantis
Mantis
Mantis, played by Pom Klementieff, is the only team member not featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1. She’s the perfect Drax comedic flick, matching her dry wit and lack of self-awareness to hilarious effect. The most hilarious characters, in typical MCU form, are the ones who don’t actually crack jokes.
#6 Groot
Groot
As Groot, Vin Diesel is back for one last ride. Groot the Second has been a constant presence in the MCU since his predecessor’s tragic death in Guardians Vol. 1. While he’s only said four words throughout his time in the MCU, Groot is set for another show-stealing role in Volume 3.
#7 Nebula
Nebula
Beginning as a villain in the first volume, Karen Gillan’s Nebula eventually becomes a hesitant member of the team in the second, and by Infinity War and Endgame, she’s become an essential part of the team.
#8 Kragline
Kraglin
Sean Gunn, brother of the film’s director James Gunn, also stars as the mocap actor for Rocket Racoon and Kraglin in all Guardians of the Galaxy productions. Kraglin had some touching moments for a minor character, especially since his role on the show is usually to help Quill and Yondu.
#9 The Scalable Top
The High Evolutionary
High Evolutionary, played by Chukwudi Iwuji, is the film’s adversary and the DC/Gunn crossover that sets the film’s tone. Rocket Racoon was created by the High Evolutionary, which is also responsible for the rigorous and unusual testing of species in the cosmos. Along with Quill chasing Gamora, this is another reason why Rocket should play a major role in the story.
#10 Cosmos
Cosmos
First seen in a flash in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 1, Cosmo the dog will finally be able to speak his mind in the upcoming holiday special and will return in Volume 3. The Russian golden retriever/astronaut, voiced by Maria Bakalova, will undoubtedly have a romantic relationship with Rocket Racoon.
#11 Aisha
Aisha
Actress Elizabeth Debicki reprises her role as Sovereign Commander Ayesha from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Ayesha will most likely introduce Adam Warlock and set the stakes for viewers. It’s great to have Ayesha here because she’s another big MCU supporting character that audiences will be eager to see.
#12 Stakar-Ogord
Stakar
It’s been announced that one of Hollywood’s biggest stars will play a bigger role in the third volume after making a cameo appearance in the second. Original Ravager Stakar, played by Sylvester Stallone, is back for more action. The level of Ravager involvement in this volume will be determined by Stakar’s role in the story.
#13 Martinex
Martinex
Micahel Rosenbaum, a living classic from the live-action comic book adaptations, will make an appearance as the original Ravager Martinex. He will most likely remain alongside Stakar and serve as a secondary character in any storyline being developed.
#14 Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock
Whereas IMDb doesn’t have Will Poulter on his roster, the ‘We’re the Millers’ actor has confirmed that his body transformation is a work in progress at Marvel’s request. So inevitably, Poulter will finally make an appearance as Adam Warlock in one of The Infinity Saga’s final post-credit sequences.
Special additions to GOTG Vol. 3
Besides the 14 MCU characters whose return is confirmed. There are 4 new actors added to the roster whose roles we are not sure of yet.
- Daniela Melchior
- nico santos
- Dane DiLiegro
- Stephen Blackhart
