James Gunn has taken to Facebook to officially reveal the Guardians of the Galaxy production image, previously seen as scan from Empire magazine, that features himself as well as his brother, Sean Gunn. In addition to an on-set reference for Rocket Raccoon, the director also reveals the other two roles that Sean played for the upcoming Marvel space epic. "This photo is from [Empire] magazine which features a great article on how we work together and what Sean contributed to the character of Rocket and to the movie as a whole," said James Gunn. "It also reveals that, in addition to being the onset Rocket, and using a lot of his body and facial work in the character, he was also the onset Thanos, as well as playing the role of Kraglin, Yondu Udonta's First Mate in the Ravagers, and Quill's lifelong frenemy. Few things in my career give me more creative pleasure than working with my brother." Check out the pic below. What do you think?
UPDATE: In response to a Facebook comment, James Gunn has further explained how important Sean Gunn was as the pre-CG Rocket Raccoon and more. "We also had a little person, who we used for reference and lighting in scenes - the very very awesome Arti Shah," he started. "But Sean is VERY limber and able to crawl around on all fours at the proper height (Rocket is actually smaller than almost all little people). But what was really important was Sean's acting. He essentially co-created the character of Rocket, and his acting is used throughout the film. It was also of great benefit to the other actors, who had a full scene partner who was as an accomplished actor as all of them. If you read the Sci-Fi article you'll find out from Zoe Saldana how important Sean was to the whole process and her personally. And I know Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista also agree. Bautista and Sean had - and continue to have - a special bond that I think is very reflective of the onscreen bond between Rocket and Drax."
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits–Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand - with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is presented by Marvel Studios and stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gilian, Djimon Hounsou with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Commander Rael and Benicio del Toro as The Collector. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, the film opens August 1, 2014.