Guardians of the Galaxy movies are awesome right? Everyone loves Rocket Groot Star-Lord and the whole gang. But did you know that two of the most beloved Guardians Groot and Nebula were actually total surprises when it came to popularity? Yep even director James Gunn was shocked ! Let's dive into some behind-the-scenes secrets he just spilled and why these characters became such huge deals.
Gunn Shocked by Groot's Popularity: From "Grey Stick" to Fan Favorite and How It Changed Everything
James Gunn recently admitted that back when they were making the first Guardians movie nobody expected Groot to be the breakout star. Seriously. He said in early screenings and tests Groot was basically "a f--king grey stick" because the CGI wasn't finished yet. Audiences just weren't feeling the talking tree at first.
But then the movie came out with the finished Groot and BAM! Everyone went crazy for him. Gunn was totally surprised. He said "In Guardians of the Galaxy did we know that Groot was going to be by far the most popular character when the first movie came out? No way. It was surprising." And guess what? Gunn being the smart director he is paid attention.
He realized when "lightning strikes" you gotta roll with it. That's why Baby Groot became such a big part of the sequels. Gunn saw the audience loved Groot so he made Groot's "son" a much bigger deal in the later movies. Smart move right?
Nebula's Transformation: From Least Liked to Top 3 Guardian and Gunn's Gut Feeling
And then there's Nebula. Karen Gillan's blue cyborg assassin sister of Gamora. Turns out she wasn't exactly winning popularity contests in the beginning either. Gunn revealed "Nebula was one of the least popular characters in the first one. She was the least popular character when we were screening the first Guardians movie." Ouch.
But Gunn saw something special in Nebula. He loved her and knew she had a killer character arc coming. Even though audiences weren't initially on board Gunn stuck to his guns. He said "Sometimes I have a plan and maybe the public doesn't see it originally but I see it. I saw who Nebula was. I knew this character had an extraordinary arc and change."
And he was totally right! Over the course of the Guardians movies and even the Avengers films Nebula went from villain to anti-hero to full-on Guardian hero. By Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 she was a total fan favorite maybe even in the top three most popular. Talk about a turnaround!
Why Did Groot and Nebula Steal Our Hearts? Comedy Heart and Character Growth FTW!
So what made these two unexpected characters so popular? Well both Groot and Nebula have a great mix of humor and heart. Groot is obviously the comic relief with his "I am Groot" catchphrase that's actually super expressive even though we only hear three words. Nebula too even though she's all serious and intense has a dry wit that's hilarious especially bouncing off the other Guardians.
But it's not just about laughs. Both characters have incredible emotional depth. Groot sacrifices himself in the first movie in a super moving scene. Nebula's whole arc is about redemption and overcoming her abusive upbringing with Thanos. They both go through major changes and growth and that's what makes us root for them.
James Gunn really nailed it with these characters. He balanced what fans wanted with his own creative vision and it paid off big time. It just goes to show you sometimes the most surprising characters become the ones we love the most.
DC Copies Groot's Death (Kind Of?) in Harley Quinn Animated Series - Seriously!
Speaking of Groot's impact guess what? DC's Harley Quinn animated series seems to have taken a page right out of the Guardians playbook! In Season 5 of Harley Quinn they have a storyline that's kinda similar to Groot's death and rebirth arc. Yep you heard that right.
In Harley Quinn it's Frank the Plant who's like their version of Groot. Frank dies in a recent episode but just like Groot a "Baby Frank" aka Frankette is born from his remains. It's a bit of a funny and weird homage to Groot's iconic storyline. Even in animation DC is taking notes from Marvel's cosmic heroes!
Key Takeaways from James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Character Insights:
- Unexpected Popularity: Groot and Nebula's massive fan following was surprising even to James Gunn.
- Groot's Rise: Initial negative reactions to CGI Groot in screenings changed dramatically after the movie's release leading to Baby Groot's increased role.
- Nebula's Arc: Despite being initially unpopular Nebula's well-developed character arc led to her becoming a fan favorite by the end of the trilogy.
- Balancing Act: Gunn balances audience reactions with his own creative vision paying attention to what works while sticking to his planned character arcs.
- Humor and Heart: Both Groot and Nebula succeed due to a blend of comic relief and emotionally resonant storylines.
- DC Homage: Harley Quinn animated series on Max features a storyline mirroring Groot's death and rebirth with Frank the Plant.
Guardians of the Galaxy Legacy: Proving the Underdogs Can Become the Biggest Stars
The story of Groot and Nebula's unexpected popularity is a great reminder in Hollywood and beyond. Sometimes the characters or things we least expect become the biggest hits. James Gunn took a chance on these quirky characters in Guardians of the Galaxy and it totally paid off. They are now icons in the MCU and beyond. So next time you are watching Guardians remember even the grey sticks and unpopular cyborgs can become legends!