One of the bigger revelations atComic-Con 2016was that during theGuardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2portion of the Marvel panel, audiences quickly became aware of the fact that Groot in the sequel is not exactly full size yet. Indeed,in the first footagethat was unveiled, it was clear that Groot inGuardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2is very much still Baby Groot, which wasa conscious decision on the part of writer/directorJames Gunnto help improve the overall impact of the story.
But does Baby Groot still have all of Groot’s memories or is it a clean slate for the sequel? This is the question that Collider’s own Steven Weintraub posed to Marvel Studios presidentKevin Feigebackstage shortly after the Marvel panel, and Feige answered by comparing the character to Spock inStar Trek:
“He remembers. He’s not mentally a baby, he is still Groot… I sort of equate it to Spock circa the end ofSearch for SpockandThe Voyage Home.”
Feige went on to stress that the dynamic between Rocket and (Baby) Groot will continue to be a centerpiece of the sequel:
“When it comes to aGuardians of the Galaxyfilm, a James Gunn script, it’s not just about the funny, it’s not just about the action, it’s about the heart. And the amount of heart that you get out of this trash panda raccoon and now this little twig baby Groot is actually awe-inspiring. It is amazing what he’s done with those two characters.”
While Gunn recently explained that fans shouldn’t expect to see the footage shown to Comic-Con audiencesonline anytime soon, Feige offered a tease for when the first trailer might drop, saying itcouldbe attached to the next Marvel movie that comes out—which isDoctor Strangeon November 4th. So yeah, fans are just gonna have to sit tight for a few more months, but the good news isGuardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2’s June 29, 2025 release date isn’ttoofar off.
And if you missed what Feige had to say aboutSpider-Man: Homecomingsequels,click here.
