How Likely Each Guardians of the Galaxy Character’s MCU Return Is After Vol. 3

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Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3!Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the end of the line for the original team, but here is which Guardians of the Galaxy characters are most likely to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Phase 5 movie was touted as the last time Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Groot (Vin Diesel) would be seen together. The roster expanded in recent years to include Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Nebula (Karen Gillan), but the finality of James Gunn"s trilogy ending created expectations that many of the characters could die. Guardians of the Galaxy 3"s ending delivers a rather happy conclusion for the team.
Instead of killing multiple main characters, James Gunn found a way to break up the team in other ways. This surprisingly leaves the door open for all the main Guardians of the Galaxy characters to return to the MCU. However, the likelihood of each returning after Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is not equal. Some characters have been officially confirmed to be coming back, while some actors have stated they will not return for more MCU movies. Since they were not among the characters who die in Guardians of the Galaxy 3, here is how likely an MCU return is for each Guardians member.
Star-Lord Is Confirmed To Return After Guardians of the Galaxy 3

The only Guardians of the Galaxy character confirmed to return to the MCU is Star-Lord. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 ended with Peter Quill leaving the team and returning to Earth to reconnect with his grandpa. Instead of this marking the end of his story, Marvel Studios wrapped up the credits by stating "The Legendary Star-Lord will return." It is not known exactly how, when, or where Chris Pratt will come back to the MCU, but this is a confirmation that audiences have not seen the last of him. Star-Lord"s new MCU name suggests that he will be on solo adventures if the comics are any indication.
Marvel confirming that Star-Lord will return after Guardians of the Galaxy 3 indicates that they have some plan in place for Chris Pratt"s character. This could be as simple as bringing him back for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty or Avengers: Secret Wars. Other options for Star-Lord"s future MCU appearances could include a role in the Nova solo project confirmed to be in development or making a surprise return in Guardians of the Galaxy 4. It also is possible that a Legendary Star-Lord solo movie or Disney+ show is being worked on.
Rocket Is Set Up To Return With The New Guardians Team

Rocket"s MCU return is not confirmed, but his continued future with the franchise was set up through Guardians of the Galaxy 3"s post-credits scene. After being named the new captain of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket has a major role to play in the cosmic side of the MCU still. This includes leading a team that includes Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam Warlock, and Phyla-Vell. There might not be an obvious place for Rocket to come back in the immediate future, but the character"s popularity and increased role in the MCU make it very likely that he will be one of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters to return.
Groot Is Likely To Return With Rocket’s Guardians Team

It is also likely that Groot will return to the MCU in the future. He is confirmed to still be part of the MCU"s new Guardians of the Galaxy team and has become even larger. Even though Marvel Studios did not choose the new team"s lineup, it would be a surprise if they do not factor into the Multiverse Saga plan in some way. Whenever the team does return, Groot will surely still be by Rocket"s side. Not only is he a fan-favorite character, but as a completely CGI creation with regenerative abilities, it becomes easier for Marvel Studios to ensure that Groot remains a key part of the franchise.
Mantis Could Return After Discovering Who She Really Is

There is a decent chance that Mantis will be one of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters to return to the MCU after Guardians of the Galaxy 3. The movie ends her story by having her leave the Guardians to discover who she really is. After spending all her life working for Ego and then the cosmic team, Mantis has never really had time to make her own decisions. Leaving Knowhere with the three Abilisks at her command means that Mantis could be absent from the MCU for a while. However, there is also room for her character to do much more in the future.
Nebula Could Return Thanks To Her Role On Knowhere

It is possible that Nebula"s MCU return will happen after Guardians of the Galaxy 3 too. The former villain turned member of the team leaves the group to help turn Knowhere into the type of home she never had as a kid. Her close relationship with Rocket and the Guardians previously calling Knowhere their headquarters gives her two very strong ties to the future. It would not be too surprising then if Nebula returned in Guardians of the Galaxy 4 or wherever Rocket"s new team appears next. Her time being a main member of the roster might be over, but that does not mean her MCU future is nonexistent.
Gamora Is Unlikely To Return After Leaving The Guardians

Gamora is not likely to be one of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters who will return to the MCU. She ultimately decides not to rejoin the Guardians team or be with Peter Quill in the end and returns to the Ravagers instead. This theoretically leaves the door open for Gamora to come back, but Zoe Saldaña has stated that she is done. Since her character was originally meant to die in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and then died in Avengers: Infinity War only to be brought back with time travel in Avengers: Endgame, playing Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is her MCU swan song.
Drax Is Unlikely To Return (Unless The MCU Recasts)

Drax"s MCU return is also unlikely, despite the open-ended nature of how Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 concludes his story. He stays on Knowhere to help be a father figure to the kids the team rescued from High Evolutionary. While his bond with Phyla-Vell provides a path to explain seeing Drax again, Dave Bautista is adamant that he will not return to the MCU. He is open to Marvel recasting Drax, which would be a way for the franchise to have the Guardians of the Galaxy character return. However, that could be a risky move on Marvel"s part, making it more likely this is the end for Drax.
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