When Guardians of the Galaxy 3 comes out, someone will die. For realsy. I hope you’re ready to cry your eyes out. Those lovable scoundrels will be all up in jeopardy for their third outing. The news came via an Instagram Q&A session with writer and director James Gunn. When a fan asked him whether or not someone would be killed, answered with a simple “yes.” No beating around the bush, that one.

The filmmaker has been the creative force behind this franchise from the very beginning, and it’s no exaggeration to say that many fans see this group as genuine friends. But as much as we all love them, Gunn knows how important stakes and consequences are. in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we saw the death of Yondu. He may not have been a main team member, but we sure as hell felt for him when he passed on. 

So, who’s going to die in Guardians of the Galaxy 3?

Potential Side Characters

Okay, so let’s be real. “Yes,” is a vague as hell statement from a filmmaker. If someone had asked the question prior to the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, he also would have answered yes. Yes, Yondu died. No, it’s not as though he’s an honest member of the core Guardians team.

With that in mind, we can’t discount the fact that we could have a side character die. It could be a new person we haven’t yet me, though I do think that’s unlikely. I don’t think Gunn would cheat audiences by introducing some rando and killing him or her off like that. We don’t like it when characters are created simply to be killed (hello, Quicksilver).

But there is one character we all love who could bite the dust: Kraglin. I think he’s technically a member of the team, but given how disconnected he is from the rest of the group, I don’t count him. But we still care about him. We cared about his journey across two films and I could see him being a heartbreaking loss for the team.

But I don’t buy it. Because of his association with Yondu, I don’t see Gunn tapping that well twice. I think he’ll give us a fresher, less connected death.

Who’s Safe In The Main Team?

Okay, so let’s start with low-hanging fruit. I don’t think Gamora is going to die. She already died in Avengers: Infinity War, and I don’t think Gunn would kill both versions of the character. That’d be cruel and would undermine any growth she has. I also don’t think Groot will die either. We’ve seen him die before and it would be a cop-out to kill this younger version. Plus, no one wants to see Teen Groot die.

I also don’t think we have to worry about Mantis or Drax. Both are fun and lovable but ultimately kinda thin. Yes, they’re great to have in the ensemble, but their arcs are fairly simple compared to the main crew. 

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What about Star-Lord? 

Well, I don’t think it’s Marvel Studios’ style to kill off the main character. Plus, they’ve had this “will they, won’t they” vibe between him and Gamora. No way they’re ending that arc with a tragic death yet again.

Who’s On The Chopping Block?

This leaves us with two alternatives: Rocket and Nebula. 

Both have had amazing arcs already. Rocket has gone from an insecure character who lashes out for fear of getting close. Nebula has gone from an angry, attention-hungry younger sister into one capable of human emotion and relationships. Both spend the last Guardians movie and the last two Avengers movies really rounding out as characters.

As such, I could see either one going. I could see Nebula sacrificing herself for Gamora and allowing her sister one last change with this family she’s created. I could also see Rocket sacrificing himself and finally putting himself on the line for someone that isn’t him. Both are perfectly successful arcs, and both would be devastating.

So, Whose Eulogy Should We Write?

However, if I was a betting man, I’d go with Rocket. James Gunn already confirmed that Rocket would be a central focus in Guardians of the Galaxy 3, and if the story revolves around him, I don’t see why he couldn’t go out in a blaze of glory as well.

“I’ll just say Rocket is a big part of what’s happening in the future – and a lot of this stuff (like the scars we’re about to see on his back) sets up what I’ve been planning for Rocket all along,” Gunn wrote on Twitter at the beginning of April. “Part of the cybernetics apparently painfully placed in his body. One of my favorite moments in the movie. Rocket’s loneliness and disaffection is at the center of the franchise for me.”

So, here’s the main question. Is this an arc that will conclude in him dying or him having an opportunity to live with the family we created? I know Gunn knows the power of stakes and loss in his films, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it were the latter.

So, who do you think is going to die in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? Let us know your thoughts down below!

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SOURCE: Comicbook.com, James Gunn