Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was (most likely) James Gunn's final GOTG movie, and it served as a fitting send-off for the team - but it did also lay the groundwork for potential follow-ups/spin-offs at the same time.
One post-credits scene introduced a new incarnation of the team led by Rocket Raccoon, and the other teased the possibility of a solo Star-Lord adventure, with Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) returning to Earth to reconnect with his grandfather.
On the commentary for Vol. 3's Digital release, Gunn addressed that final "The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return" title card, and it sounds like there are indeed tentative plans in place for a spin-off focusing on Quill's effort to adapt to life back on Terra.
"Oh, but not quite over. We always want to give somebody a little something special. And Chris and I, forever, have talked about how great it would be to be able to do a 'Legendary Star-Lord' movie, a story with Star-Lord on Earth trying to adapt to the environment of Earth in the same way that somebody else might try to adapt to the alien environment of outer space. He's a fish out of water in just kind of regular water. So I can't wait to see it."
Gunn doesn't seem to have any intention of helming this project (be it a film or Disney+ series) himself, but it certainly sounds like there have been discussions at Marvel Studios about developing some kind of Star-Lord spin-off.
If and when the Legendary Star-Lord does return, would you be interested in Gunn and Pratt's idea of following the character as he re-adapts to life on Earth? Let us know in the comments.
"In Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere. But it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past." "Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life—a mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them."
Gunn writes and directs Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, and Maria Bakalova. Kevin Feige is the producer and Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nikolas Korda, Simon Hatt, and Sara Smith serve as executive producers.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now available on Digital platforms.