Two of the pivotal players in Marvel’s forthcoming adventure GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY have been offering their thoughts on the character of Groot and the actor playing him. The walking and talking tree-like creature is to be motion-captured and voiced (although it will be only one line of dialogue) by hulking FAST & FURIOUS superstar Vin Diesel in the sci-fi film being written and directed by James Gunn. Actor Michael Rooker (who plays Yondu) has been talking about strange being set to be unleashed as part of the outlandish team of otherworldly outlaws.
Speaking to Forbes, The Walking Dead actor Michael Rooker commented:
Groot is not a tree, he’s a different being from a different universe. And he’s not like a tree the way we have trees. We use it for cordwood, for cooking and heating our homes. Groot is a whole different being from a whole different galaxy, somewhere you don’t even know where he’s from. I don’t even know where he’s from. He just happens to look like bark.
The growing interest from supporters of the comic-book and those new fans the movie adaptation is sure to bring, Rooker added:
It’s a great series, I love the old series and the new one’s pretty cool, too. So I think it’s helping people go back and look at the series if they haven’t seen it yet. Then they get all high about it, and it’s awesome.
Having caught the first footage during San Diego Comic Con, I can confirm it’s looking both hilarious and action-packed and what Marvel put together in less than two weeks of shooting was quite remarkable. A highlight of an epic event.
Chris Pratt too, who takes on the lead of half human/half alien Star Lord (aka Peter Quill), while promoting his role in Vince Vaughn comedy DELIVERY MAN, was asked about the character, specifically Diesel’s addition, and the video below gives us more opportunity to see his excitement.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is slated for cinemas from 1st August 2014 and co-stars Dave Bautisita, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Benicio del Toro, Karen Gillan, Ophelia Lovibond, Lee Pace, Djimon Honsou, Glenn Close, Peter Serafinowicz and John C. Reilly.
Craig was our great north east correspondent, proving that it’s so ‘grim up north’ that losing yourself in a world of film is a foregone prerequisite. He has been studying the best (and often worst) of both classic and modern cinema at the University of Life for as long as he can remember. Craig’s favorite films include THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, JFK, GOODFELLAS, SCARFACE, and most of John Carpenter’s early work, particularly THE THING and HALLOWEEN.
