Rocket’s origins in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be different from the comics, and James Gunn has teased their inclusion in a future film. The character, created with CGI and voiced by Bradley Cooper, stole audiences hearts after he appeared in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film; the sarcastic humor and his relationship with Groot were some of the most praised parts of the film. And although Gunn has given us minor details about his origin, the MCU has yet to show it on screen.


Rocket is a genetically modified Raccoon with violent tendencies and a spiky personality because of his past. In the comics, he was originally experimented on to become a Chief Law Officer on a colony for the mentally ill, Halfworld. He and his friend, Wal-Rus, protected the planet and its inhabitants from any potential threat. He even manages to cure some of the colony of their mental illnesses and leaves to find new adventures in space before joining the Guardians of the Galaxy.


But this original backstory for Rocket will be changed when we see it in a future film. At the recent Hasbro HASCON (viaMCU Exchange), James Gunn spoke on a panel about the Guardians of the Galaxy and the future of the characters. Since Rocket is a fan favorite character, the director was asked about his backstory and if we would ever see it on screen in the future. He went on to say that it won’t be the exact same origin as fans will know from the comics – it’ll be worse:

“As you know, the MCU is one way of processing these characters. 616 is a different one. We are going to learn more about where Rocket comes from in the coming sagas. It’s going to be a little different from the comics. We already know a lot about from where he came from. It’s a little bit more horrible than what it is in the comics when you come down to it. We will learn more about that.”



The director previously defended the changes made from the comics, and it’s clear he’s not going to stop making adjustments going forward. The films have already told us that Rocket was experimented on to increase his intelligence and strength, but the reasons have been kept vague. Perhaps in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gunn will show audiences the reasons behind Rocket’s abrasive personality.


Rocket will next be appearing in Avengers: Infinity War alongside the rest of the Guardians team. But rumors are swirling that they might actually have a cameo appearance in Thor: Ragnarok. Since Thor’s next solo film will be a cosmic road trip adventure, it would be a great way of bringing the characters together.