Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Kurt Russell, Sylvester Stallone, Dave Bautista & James Gunn give us some out-of-this-world insight.
Was there any pressure coming into this second one?
James Gunn: I wanted to continue the film from the first movie. So many sequels are not good. Many of them just do the same thing the first movie did. We tried to let these characters grow and change. People were surprised by the first movie. To give people something new and something different from what they already had is the best.
Kurt, how’d you feel joining this world?
Kurt Russell: When I read the script, I wanted to make sure I was understanding it. I hadn’t seen the first movie. I knew everybody loved it. I also knew that, all of a sudden, people around me are saying, “Are you gonna be Peter Quill’s father?” I didn’t really know what they were talking about! Then, I saw the movie. I immediately started getting it.
Marvel Studios
How was Kurt with melding into the Guardians collective?
JG: It was terrible. He was a nightmare. [Laughs]
Chris Pratt: You promised yourself you’re not gonna geek out. But, it’s a little inauthentic if you don’t. I did that immediately. Then, you move forward. There’s this really cool thing that is the greatest part of it, you become somebody’s friend.
Chris, there are so many fatherhood themes in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, did you bring anything from your own journey to the role?
CP: Not much of my relationship as a child to a parent, but as a parent to a child with Baby Groot. The character of Groot — who is vulnerable — when he climbs up on Quill’s lap, I’m reflecting upon the relationship I had with the man who raised me. I realize that I’ve now entered the chapter in my life where I’m gonna be the man who’s raising somebody.
What’s the biggest surprise making these movies?
Zoe Saldana: I don’t think that people really understand what Sean Gunn does for the movie.
He plays Kraglin, but he is also the on-set Rocket Raccoon!
ZS: The references, the intonation… he’s also limber as well. He’s always Rocket-size. Rocket is the sassiest character of the Guardians. I don’t think that we would be able to respond to Rocket the same way if Sean wasn’t playing him.
