Being a Guardian of the Galaxy isn't just about flying around in cool space ships and listening to classic tunes from the '60s, '70s and '80s. They take the Guardian title very seriously, which means having to fight any number of threats targeting the innocent. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, that will include fighting a giant, snake-like being known as an Abilisk, which was teased earlier this week in concept art. However, they won't be fighting this monster free of charge.
During a Facebook Live stream earlier today, director James Gunn was asked what the creature from the concept art was called. While naming it, he let drop that they're fighting it as part of a job. In his words:
That's an Abilisk. It's a multidimensional being, and the Guardians have been hired to fight him.
As made clear in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, these protagonists aren't your average superheroes. Sure, they're not villains or dastardly in any way, but they also don't sport clean records and they do care about money/treasures. They need to make a living somehow, and with their talents, fighting an Abilisk helps pay the bills. Many fans assumed that this scene will take place closer to the beginning of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 rather than near the end as some kind of "boss fight." After all, James Gunn isn't the kind of director who would spoil what the climactic battle of his movie will look like, let alone nine months before the release.
While it's interesting to hear how the Guardians have been hired by an unknown party to battle the Abilisk, it's the 'multidimensional' part of Gunn's comment that's especially piqued our interest. Since last year, the MCU has started exploring other dimensions. Ant-Man showed Scott Lang falling through the Quantum Realm (the MCU's version of the Microverse), and Doctor Strange will see the eponymous superhero traveling to other realms using his magical abilities. Even Agent Carter Season 2 featured the Darkforce, an extra-dimensional substance. It's not the same as having Thanos show up or including an Infinity Stone, but making the Abilisk a being from another dimension gives Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 a loose connection to other corners of the MCU.
Plot details are scarce on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 are scarce, but the movie will see the team expanding their ranks to include Mantis, Nebula and Yondu. Some of the new players include Kurt Russell as Ego, Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha, Chris Sullivan as Taserface, Tommy Flanagan as an yet-to-be-named Ravager and Sylvester Stallone as a yet-to-be-named Nova Corps member.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters on May 5, 2017.
