To get fans excited for Marvel's presence at this year's San Diego Comic-Con International, director James Gunn has decided to release new official concept art from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, featuring the team you've come to know and love, with, of course, a few new additions. The artwork from Marvel Studios' concept artist Andy Park gives us our first look at Pom Klementieff as Mantis. She'll be making her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as one of the newest members of Guardians. Also joining the team are Gamora's (Zoe Saldana) not-so-friendly sister Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker).
Executive producer Jonathan Schwartz provided a few details as to what fans can expect from Mantis as she joins the group of heroic outlaws. “She has never really experienced social interaction," Schwartz told Entertainment Weekly. "Everything she learns about dealing with people, she learns from the Guardians of the Galaxy, which is a very weird group to learn your social intricacies from.” I can only imagine what a conversation between Mantis and Drax would be like.
Change doesn't just come in the form of new faces. According to Schwartz, not only did Groot's (Vin Diesel) body drastically change, but also his personality. “He doesn’t have the wisdom and experience of that Groot. He’s a younger Groot and a more rambunctious Groot. The question is, is he the same Groot, just smaller? Or is he a different Groot that’s sprung up from the seed of the first Groot?”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters May 5th, 2017.
Set to the backdrop of ‘Awesome Mixtape #2,’ Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 stars Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon, Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Glenn Close as Irani Rael, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Kurt Russeell as Peter Quill's father, Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha, Chris Sullivan as Taserface, Tommy Flanagan as Tullk, Sean Gunn as Kraglin Obfonteri, Nathan Fillion as Simon Williams, Steve Agee, and Sylvester Stallone. The film is written and directed by James Gunn.