Often, when a major actor is being looked at to join a superhero movie, some report about who they're playing leaks it out before there's an official announcement, taking away the element of surprise. That wasn't the case with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 this past weekend when Creed star Sylvester Stallone was spotted with the movie's script in Atlanta, Georgia, the same place where shooting is taking place. He's since been seen filming scenes for the sequel, and while it still hasn't been officially revealed what his role is, now it's looking like his character will be a player in the MCU's cosmic criminal underworld.
The latest word is that Sylvester Stallone will play one of the Ravagers, the group of space pirates led by Michael Rooker's Yondu, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Heroic Hollywood didn't provide any more details about this role, but it was previously reported that he will only have a small cameo. Assuming this is true, this makes Stallone the second new Ravager to be added to the movie, following Tommy Flanagan's character, who will be Yondu's second-in-command. Stallone was also seen on set in a costume that looked the one he wore as Judge Dredd in 1995, and a Ravager uniform might very well fit this description. Other than Yondu, the only other Ravager who got any notable attention in Guardians of the Galaxy was Kraglin, played by Sean Gunn, brother of director James Gunn.
Prior to the events of Guardians of the Galaxy, Yondu and the Ravagers kidnapped Peter Quill as a boy to deliver him to his mysterious father, but then Yondu decided to keep him instead and make him a card-carrying member of their crew. In the present day, Peter, a.k.a. Star-Lord, struck out on his own to steal the Orb, which is really the Power Stone, before the Ravagers could, thus earning their ire. After they chased him and the other Guardians down, eventually a deal was worked where the Ravagers would help defend Xandar in exchange for the Orb, though Peter switched out the ancient artifact with a troll doll. Yondu didn't seem to mind, but I imagine whoever Stallone is playing may not take the deception so well.
Assuming some years have passed since the first movie, it stands to reason the Ravagers' membership has expanded in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Sylvester Stallone's character is either one of the new recruits or possibly someone not around for the previous adventure. However, given the actor's history with playing action heroes and all-around tough guys, one wonders if there are different factions of the Ravagers traveling through the galaxy, and perhaps Stallone leads his own group of cutthroats. I'll admit, though, a small part of me wished he was playing a member of Groot's species, a.k.a. Flora colossus. Can you imagine him saying "I am Groot" in the Rocky voice? He'd give Vin Diesel a deep-throated run for his money.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 flies into theaters on May 5, 2017.
