As Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set to culminate the Guardians series, here is every important story, character, and team detail that could be crucial to the story of the titular team’s fourth mainline MCU outing. The Guardians first appeared in the MCU in 2014 as a ragtag group of outlaws who banded together to save the galaxy from the threat of Ronan. Since then, the team has become the second-most popular MCU team besides the Avengers, with each character having a broad story told between their introduction and Guardians Vol. 3.
From the mainline Guardians sequel of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to the Marvel Studios Special Presentation of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, the team has evolved since 2014. Aside from these MCU entries, however, the Guardians have played roles in other projects like Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Thor: Love and Thunder. With Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ending this current iteration of the team, here is a definitive recap of their MCU journey since their inclusion in Marvel Studios’ sprawling cosmic universe.
12 Star-Lord Was Taken From Earth As A Child
When concerning Star-Lord/Peter Quill, one of the main things to know about his character is that he was born on Earth. In the first Guardians of the Galaxy, Quill is shown in 1988 as a child of Meredith Quill, who is sadly dying of cancer. After Meredith passes, Peter runs out into the Missouri wilderness, only to be captured by an alien ship led by Yondu Udonta. Yondu was hired to bring Quill to the latter’s father but chose to keep him due to the attachment they formed. Since then, Star-Lord only returned to Earth once in Avengers: Endgame, otherwise spending the rest of his life among the stars.
11 Gamora Is A 2014 Version Of Herself
The main plot point that will be important to Gamora’s character in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is that she is a version of herself from an alternate timeline. In Avengers: Infinity War, the Gamora introduced in Guardians Vol. 1 was killed by her father Thanos. Avengers: Endgame then introduced a new version of Gamora from 2014, before she met Peter or the other Guardians. This version of Gamora traveled to the present to be reunited with the Guardians, only without any memory of who they are or their connection to her.
This version of Gamora will be the one centered on in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Based on the marketing for the film, it is likely much of the story will center on Quill attempting to reignite his relationship with Gamora, despite the latter not knowing who he is other than that her alternate self was in love with him. This will likely serve as the basis for Gamora’s – and Quill’s – emotional arc in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as a way to end her character’s journey.
10 Nebula Was Tortured By Her Father Thanos
Gamora’s sister, Nebula, will also be a part of the Guardians in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Nebula began as a ruthless warrior, dedicated to earning Thanos’ approval by any means necessary. In the first film, Nebula served Ronan as a result, helping the latter to obtain the Power Stone and aiding his attempt to destroy Xandar. However, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 greatly humanized Nebula, revealing that her yearning for her father’s approval comes from the years of abuse and torture he inflicted on her, due to her not being as strong or capable as Gamora.
This led Gamora and Nebula to reconcile, something heavily feature in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Similar to Quill, it is likely some of Nebula’s emotional arc in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will incorporate her attempts to reconnect with Gamora, as she and Nebula were not particularly close in 2014. Also, Nebula’s journey could include how she feels now that her father has been defeated, after the years of trauma she suffered at Thanos’ hands prior to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
9 Star-Lord & Mantis Are Brother And Sister
Undoubtedly the biggest story reveal of the fairly inconsequential Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was that Mantis and Star-Lord are siblings. Quill’s father was Ego, a Celestial who sired children all over the galaxy in the hopes of birthing a child with powers like his. He succeeded with Quill, leading to his evil plan that was subsequently stopped by the Guardians.
However, it was revealed in the Guardians Holiday Special that one of these many children Ego had was Mantis herself. Unlike the rest of his children whom he killed as he deemed them unworthy, Mantis was kept alive due to her empathic abilities that enabled Ego to sleep and rest his mind. Mantis revealed this to Quill in the Holiday Special, leading to a heartwarming scene in which the two embraced each other as brother and sister. This plot point is sure to be revisited in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, likely as another way to keep the emotional stakes of the film high.
8 Drax’s Family Was Killed By Ronan
An important plot point revolving around Drax is that his family was murdered by Ronan. Prior to the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, Drax’s family was killed by Ronan as a means of finding the Power Stone for Thanos. This fueled Drax to get revenge against Ronan, something he managed to achieve by the end of the first Guardians movie. In aiding the Avengers defeat Thanos, Drax finally laid his feud to rest.
7 Rocket Has A Dark Past With The High Evolutionary
As Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set to focus mostly on Rocket’s character, it is worth noting his dark past with the High Evolutionary. The film will feature the Marvel Comics villain as its antagonist, linking to Rocket’s origins in the MCU. In the first Guardians, Quill notices Rocket’s cybernetic enhancements before Rocket – later in the film – states that he never asked to be made. The third Guardians will detail Rocket’s origin, and how he was created and abused by the High Evolutionary.
6 Groot Was Reborn In Guardians Vol. 1
One of the most interesting plot elements of the Guardians centers on Groot, and the fact there have actually been two separate versions of the character in the MCU. At the end of Guardians Vol. 1, Groot sacrifices himself to save his found family. Rocket then regrows Groot, who eventually became baby Groot, teenage Groot, and young adult Groot in Guardians 2, Avengers 3 and 4, and Guardians 3 respectively. After Guardians 1, Groot was reborn with new memories and a new personality, meaning the original Groot was killed in the first film.
5 Drax & Mantis Have Formed A Close Bond Since Guardians Vol. 2
Aside from the new familial bond shared with Quill, Mantis is closest to Drax out of the other Guardians. Since Vol. 2, Drax and Mantis have been shown to form a close bond. From their humorous antics and heartwarming bonding in the second film to the same that occurred in the Avengers film and the Holiday Special, Drax and Mantis’ dynamic will likely be showcased heavily in Guardians Vol. 3 too.
4 The Guardians Rebuilt Knowhere As Their Home Base After Endgame
Another story element revealed about the team during The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was that their home base is now on Knowhere. Knowhere used to serve as a mining facility that housed seedy businesses and establishments, owned by the Collector. After Thanos was defeated, the Guardians bought Knowhere from the Collector and began rebuilding it, allowing it to function as their headquarters. This location will likely be featured heavily in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as a result.
3 The Sovereign Have Sent Adam Warlock For Revenge Against The Guardians
Based on the marketing for the film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will pay off the end-credit sequence of Vol. 2. At the end of that film, the leader of the Sovereign race – Ayesha – vowed revenge against the Guardians for the latter stealing treasure from her people. This led the Sovereign to create a new being named Adam, who would be the next stage in their evolution. This character, Adam Warlock from Marvel Comics, will serve as one of the primary antagonists for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 played by Will Poulter.
2 The Guardians Have New Members In Cosmo & Kraglin
Aside from the core Guardians members of Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Mantis, Rocket, Groot, and Nebula, the team has two new members for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. These come in the form of Cosmo and Kraglin. Beginning with the latter, Kraglin was a member of the Ravagers who helped raise Quill and joined the team after the death of Yondu in Vol. 2. Cosmo, on the other hand, is a telepathic dog who was imprisoned by the Collector who was freed by the Guardians upon their possession of Knowhere.
1 Nebula & Rocket Worked With The Avengers During The Blip
Finally, one of the last elements of the Guardians’ past that could be important to Vol. 3 is that Rocket and Nebula survived Thanos’ snap. At the end of Infinity War, Thanos used the Infinity Gauntlet to erase half of all life in the universe, with Rocket and Nebula being the only two surviving members of the Guardians. This led the duo to work closely with the Avengers during the five-year-long Blip, before eventually reviving the other Guardians members in Endgame. This history with the Avengers could serve as a plot point in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, especially given the film’s focus on Rocket.
