The Avengers: Infinity War trailer saw the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy intersect when Thor (Chris Hemsworth) comes face-to-face with the band of adventurers.
“Who the hell are you guys?” Thor asks as he is met by a smirking Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Groot (Vin Diesel), Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (PomKlementieff).
Groot is another new form, first seen in a mid-credits scenes of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 after the walking tree appeared as a 12-foot tall adult.
Guardians franchise writer and director James Gunn said Groot’s latest iteration is deemed “Adolescent Groot,” and he has the personality to match:
“Another minor misconception is that people think that’s Teen Groot at the end of the movie,” Gunn explained. “And I understand why. It’s actually Adolescent Groot. I would call him ‘Tween Groot.’ Or, we call him ‘Adolescent Groot.’ He’s not quite a teenager yet.”
Gunn, who said Adolescent Groot’s first appearance — when he openly defies his “father,” Star-Lord, over a video game — takes place “years after the ending of Vol. 2,” further revealed, “it will take years to show you how Groot goes from infancy to adulthood.”
Infinity War will catch up with the Guardians four years after their galaxy-saving adventure in Vol. 2.
Marvel later released an extended version of the Adolescent Groot scene featuring even more back and forth between an impatient Quill and an angsty Groot.
The Guardians will return in Infinity War and Avengers 4 before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, once again scripted and directed by Gunn, brings the team’s story to a “conclusion.”
Avengers: Infinity War opens May 4.
