Editor's Note: The post-obit article contains spoilers for Thor: Love and ThunderPrior to the release of their commencement film in 2014, the Guardians of the Galaxy weren't even close to a household name like the Avengers. Years afterwards, however, the odd-ball group of intergalactic defenders has become ane of the crown jewels of the MCU. Audiences everywhere completely experience in honey with the band of misfits who could non only brand them express joy but also make them care about their problems both on and off the battlefield. Suffice to say, Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), Groot (Vin Diesel), Drax (Dave Bautista), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Nebula (Karen Gillan), and Kraglin (Sean Gunn) accept all made their way into the hearts of both hardcore fans and Curiosity newcomers alike.

However, subsequently the two-part universe-shattering event that was Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame , one fellow member of the team was not accounted for. Gamora (Zoe Saldana), lost her life when Thanos (Josh Brolin) sacrificed her to obtain the soul stone as part of his plan for wiping out one-half the universe. Yet, Zoe Saldana is prepare to reprise Gamora for the upcoming third installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. How is this possible? Where is Gamora at present? (Why is Gamora at present?) Does this mean she'll once once again become a total-fledged member of the team?

Well, if yous're hoping for the Guardians' brief cameo appearance in Thor: Dear and Thunder to answer all of your called-for questions about the 70s music-loving band of misfits, you may be out of luck. The team only appears in the motion picture for a couple of minutes earlier the movie focuses the rest of its time on Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and his ain adventure. Although, that doesn't mean nosotros still tin can't give a brief summary on where the team was prior to Love and Thunder, what they become up to in the latest Marvel moving-picture show, and where we'll be seeing the group again (and it may be sooner than you recall).

Before Thor Joined the Coiffure

Guardians of the Galaxy lineup

Let'due south kickoff things off by reintroducing the electric current grouping that calls themselves the Guardians of the Galaxy. In the original film, we first meet Peter Quill, who affectionately calls himself Star-Lord. A cocky homo born on Earth with a fondness for classic tunes from the 70s and raised by a group of space pirates called Ravagers. Somewhen, he'southward joined by Gamora, the rogue adopted daughter of Thanos the Mad Titan, Rocket, a self-centered talking raccoon with an explosive arsenal, Groot, a sentient tree who tin can only say "I am Groot," and Drax, a revenge-seeking warrior who takes every argument literally. It takes a while for them to get along, but they somewhen put their differences aside to save a galactic utopia from an evil Kree Accuser called Ronan (Lee Stride).

In the sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. ii , the squad's roster expands just a tad, now including Mantis, a problems-like humanoid who tin manipulate the emotions of others, Nebula, Gamora's villainous sister turned apprehensive ally, and finally Yondu (Michael Rooker), Quills adopted dad who sacrificed himself in the film'southward determination in a terminal act of redemption. Yondu may non have survived, just he still was able to assist the Guardians in defeating Quill's real father, Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell).

After two movies, the Guardians finally hit the large leagues with Avengers: Infinity State of war. Following a routine distress call, the current squad (minus Nebula) literally runs into our favorite god of thunder, Thor, who is just barely clinging to life after a run-in with Thanos. Thor tells the grouping that Thanos already has two Infinity Stones and is going to the Collector (Benicio Del Toro) for the third. Knowing where the Collector is based, Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, and Mantis head to his base on Knowhere while Thor, Rocket, and Groot use one of their escape pods to detect a facility that can make Thor a new weapon subsequently Hela (Cate Blanchett) destroyed Mjolnir. Quill'south team falls into a trap set by Thanos, and Gamora is captured before ultimately being sacrificed for the fourth Infinity Rock.

Spider-Man, Iron Man, Drax, Star Lord and Mantis looking at Thanos on Titan

While Thor, Rocket, and Drax are assisting in repelling Thanos' forces on Globe, the rest of the Guardians take met up with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Medico Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), and Spider-Man (Tom Holland) and set a trap of their own for Thanos. They fight valiantly and virtually get the Infinity Gauntlet off of the Mad Titan, with Nebula flying in halfway through with the assist, just when Thanos reveals he killed Gamora, Quill loses his cool and causes him to break free. With the fourth dimension stone in hand, Thanos performs the notorious snap, where all the Guardians except Rocket and Nebula fade into dust.

Being the merely members of the team left, Rocket and Nebula jump at the hazard to revive their friends when the Avengers hatch a plan to go dorsum in time, retrieve the Infinity Stones, and revive the half of the universe that Thanos killed. They succeed, but not without attracting a Thanos from another timeline, bringing in with him versions of Gamora and Nebula who are yet loyal to their mad dad. The variant of the majestic villain uses the real Nebula to follow the strike squad to their own timeline. Thankfully, Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) is able to employ the stones to revive all the heroes who were lost, including the other Guardians, who join in a terminal boxing against Thanos's forces. The Nebula variant is killed during the conflict and our Nebula convinces the Gamora variant to plow on Thanos. Peter tries to encompass this Gamora, but since she'due south from some other universe where she and Peter oasis't met yet, he gets a swift kicking to the no man's land. Finally, the battle is won, and the reunited Guardians become set to caput back into space, at present with Thor joining them and Peter intent on searching for Gamora as evidenced by him looking her up on his ship'south holo-screen.

'Thor: Love and Thunder'

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The fourth installment in the Thor serial opens with a brusk montage of Thor getting fit and going on adventures with the Guardians. Though Thor is certainly a powerful hero that one would want on their side, he does absolutely overstay his welcome and steals the thunder from the group (pun intended). After some other successful planetary mission, at present with Kraglin on board, a fellow Ravager and known associate of Yondu's, the Guardians' ship is suddenly overwhelmed with distress signals alert of Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) and his mission to exterminate all gods in the milky way. When Thor sees his onetime friend Sif (Jaimie Alexander) is in danger, Peter suggests that Thor continue his ain and reach her as quickly as possible. Peter and Thor have a small heart-to-heart where Star-Lord tells the god of thunder that he needs to find out who he is and focus on the people he loves. This tender moment shows that Quill was being 18-carat and sincere and Thor embarking on his own path and surely had cypher to do with the Guardians non wanting to bargain with the two obnoxious goats that were gifted to Thor only moments agone.

What'south Next for the Guardians of the Milky way?

Baby Groot's (Vin Diesel) cuteness makes him a standout in 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2'
Image via Walt Disney Studios/Marvel Studios

Most would understandably expect that the next time we'll see the Guardians is in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 , but there are actually two other Guardians-related projects that are fix to premiere exclusively on Disney+ later on this year.

The first is correct around the corner with an August 10th premiere date. Titled I Am Groot , the serial volition be a collection of brusque films all centering effectually everyone'south favorite tree of few words. We don't know much about the plots of the shorts nor if they'll be vital to MCU lore, but we practice know that this is probably going to take place quondam before Avengers: Infinity War given that testify is set to follow a babe version of Groot. If that ways more Babe Groot, none of us are lament.

The next Disney+ projection will be presumably coming right in fourth dimension for the holiday flavour, as this will be The Guardians of the Galaxy Vacation Special . Non simply is every fellow member of the main bandage ready to return, but James Gunn, the writer and manager of the previous two volumes and the upcoming third moving picture, will as well exist on board for the writing and directing roles. Gunn has also said that the special volition not exist a one-off joke that you can easily skip, but will really be essential viewing for the current MCU saga. The special takes place between Love and Thunder and Vol. three.

gotg holiday special guardians of the galaxy social featured
Image via Disney

Finally, there is the third (and potentially last) Guardians of the Galaxy film, titled simply Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Fans tin can wait to see the main squad returning, besides as Gamora confirmed to make an advent, no dubiety she will be an essential part of the chief plot. The picture is also set to reintroduce characters from Vol. 2 with both Stakar Ogord (Sylvester Stallone) and Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) announced to render. Finally, some new faces are set to join this wacky part of the galaxy, with Will Poulter (Midsommar) joining the cast as comics favorite Adam Warlock as well equally unknown roles for James Gunn veterans with Daniela Melchior (The Suicide Team) and Chukwudi Iwuji (Peacemaker). On top of all of that, with the reveal that Hercules (Brett Goldstein) is in the MCU now, the Olympian could brand an appearance in the third flick every bit Herc has been known to team upwardly with the Guardians in the comics.

Apart from that, we don't know exactly what'south in store for the Guardians' third solo adventure other than it will supposedly be the decision for "this version" of the team.

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