In October 2022, Marvel released the trailer for the ‘Guardians of The Galaxy Holiday Special‘ that swelled fans for an exciting festive season. The trailer laid the plot where Quill is still depressed that his earlier romantic interest Gamora is gone. His crew therefore decides to cheer him up with an amazing present for the upcoming Christmas. Mantis and Drax go on a fun trip to Earth searching for Quill’s childhood hero, Kevin Bacon. However, in the short clip, a slight glimpse of now grown-up Groot caught fans in raptures.
In ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2′, Groot is young, and popular as ‘Baby Groot’. Later in ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘, he grows up to be a sapping, moody adolescent who annoys the nomadic crew. This new look led to fans questioning the franchise director James Gunn on social media. Here’s what the director said at the time as he explained Groot’s design change.
James Gunn Opens Up About Groot In ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’
Many have been confusing Groot of the ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 1‘ with the newborn Groot. In the film, Groot dies saving the new superhero group from a spaceship crash by growing a protective orb around them. Later, Rocket takes the pieces of Groot and plants him.
In the post-credit scene, we see an infant Groot almost in the shape of a stem dancing to Quill’s old music cassettes. Groot of Vol 1 is considered the father of the new Groot. In the movie, besides gaining height, Groot has also buffed up. He bears much resemblance to his father except for the studied build.
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But fans weren’t really clear about this when the trailer was first released, so amid all the speculation, director James Gunn replied to an inquiring fan on X explicitly defining the two characters differently.
Gunn clarified the character mix-up and commented on the new look of Groot. “Well, YA Groot, or Swoll Groot, as we call him, is getting bigger, outward as well as upward. As you can see by now he has a different, stockier physiology (and a more outgoing personality) than his father did. #GuardiansoftheGalaxyHolidaySpecial,” he wrote.
If you come to think of it, Groot was the father of Swoll Groot and since Rocket brought him up it would make him the latter’s adoptive father.
All About ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ Holiday Special
The holiday special film focuses on cheering up Quill, popularly known as Star-Lord. Mantis plans on getting Quill a present that he will never forget. Hence Drax and Mantis set out on a shopping spree to Earth to bring the ‘Footloose‘ star, Kevin Bacon for Quill.
Mantis and Drax explore Earth together and take in the holiday vibe of Hollywood. From there, they pick up the stars map of Hollywood. The map leads them to Kevin Bacon and by putting the police and Kevin in a trance, they take Kevin out of the galaxy.
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Trying to surprise Quill, they bring Kevin to him. Instead, Quill is enraged for forcing Kevin against his will and demands to take him back. On the way, Quill listens about the bravery and valor of the ‘Guardians of The Galaxy‘ and decides to spend Christmas with the Marvel heroes. Mantis, discouraged by ruining Christmas for Quill, reveals that she is his half-sister created by their Celestial father Ego.
