While most of us tend to associate the story of a movie based on its plot, the fact is that most stories have multiple levels. On one level — and perhaps the most shallow of levels — you have the plot, or the stuff that happens the flick. On another level, you may have a thematic story. On a third level, you have the evolution of the relationships between all the characters. On yet another level, the story is all about how the lead character (or characters) have their perspective on things change. More high art fare may focus on the second level, more shallow fare on the first, but genuinely good storytelling — be it popcorn or indie movies — have a strong emphasis on those third and fourth levels.

Yes, what happens in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is important — and it will have repercussions in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the film would have no impact if there was no emotional evolution. So what kind of character growth can we expect Star-Lord and the rest of the Guardians go through?

On the special featurette from the recently released Doctor Strange, Gunn had a chance to speak about the kind of emotional journey that will be the centerpiece of the film.

“I think the primary story is really about learning that thing that we think we want, that we’re going to get outside of ourselves and outside of these relationships that we have, has been there all along.”

Given that this movie is largely about Star-Lord finding his father, I can imagine that a good part of the story is him discovering that the dad-shaped hole in his heart probably wasn’t there to begin with. He’ll likely find that in the rest of the Guardians he’d discovered the family that he’d thought went missing years ago.

Yeah, it all sounds sappy and stupid when you say it out loud like that, but in the hands of a deft storyteller, it can be quite the effective arc. 

What do you think of Gunn’s comments? Does this seem like a natural progression of the journey Peter Quill went on in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie? Let us know your thoughts down below!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters on May 5, 2017.

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SOURCE: Marvel