Maria Bakalova was Borat Subsequent Moviefilm's breakout star, and she's since had no trouble landing high-profile roles in Hollywood. However, her biggest looks set to be playing Cosmo the Spacedog in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and the actor commented on that gig during a recent interview with Discussing Film.
Asked what it's been like to bring the character to life in the MCU, Bakalova confirmed that as well as lending her voice to Cosmo, she also donned a motion-capture costume!
"Yes, I was in mo-cap. I think that’s the only thing I can share so far," the actor teased. "It’s been amazing. I’ve been a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, alongside being a fan of Dogme 95, the movement created by Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg. Yes, they are two completely different things, but equally important to me"
"So having the chance to join the family of Marvel and especially the Guardians of the Galaxy, which was my first love in the MCU, was a dream come true," Bakalova continued. "I love seeing all the people excited for Vol. 3, the fans have been so welcoming and warm. It’s truly precious and reminds you why you’re actually doing this kind of work, to make people feel something. I think that’s the biggest gift."
While Cosmo has been portrayed as a male in the comic books, writer and director James Gunn reportedly decided to make the change in order to pay tribute to Laika, the real-life Soviet space dog who died orbiting Earth in 1947. She actually served as the key source of inspiration for Cosmo, so it feels right to make what is ultimately a minor change in the grand scheme of things.
As for Bakalova, we're already willing to bet on her stealing the show in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and hope Cosmo has a future in the MCU beyond just this threequel.
The next Guardians of the Galaxy movie will be released in theaters on May 5, 2023.