People loved the brief appearance of Baby Groot at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy, so it gave James Gunn and Marvel extra confidence to include him as a full character in the sequel. Baby Groot is so adorable and funny that he almost steals every scene he's in, and one post-credits scene reveals that people might love Groot no matter what age he is. Fans were treated to Preteen Groot (or Tween Groot, as Gunn prefers), who throws as much sass as he can into just three words. Here's what Preteen Groot could have looked like in the finished film.
Fans who buy the art book for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 are sure to be treated to some great concept art and behind-the-scenes trivia. Marvel Studios visual development concept artist Anthony Francisco shared one piece of concept art showing off an early design for Tween Groot. The art showcases the moody Groot giving Star-Lord the business while he plays a game, which is how it went down in the movie. Francisco's design is very close to what they ended up using in Vol. 2. The only noticeable difference is that Tween Groot has some draping roots serving as his hair in the film.
For those curious, Anthony Francisco is a member of Marvel's art team who has worked on the more fantastical of Marvel's filmography. His work includes both Guardians of the Galaxy films, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, and Thor: Ragnarok. He clearly does great work too, seeing as how his Groot design is almost the same as the film's version.
While Baby Groot is a delight and it sure would be interesting to see Tween Groot return for a future movie, it's a bit unclear what Groot's age will be by the time Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 rolls around. Groot's next appearance will be in Avengers: Infinity War and it's been assumed that Groot will have returned to his full-grown status in order to better lend a hand. Whether he stays that way or once again gets blown to bits is a good topic of speculation.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is written and directed by James Gunn and continues the adventures of the Guardians. The film finds the Guardians getting attacked from all sides and receiving the aid of Ego, a mysterious being who claims to be Peter Quill's father. The sequel is a smash-hit, coming in No. 1 at the box office two weeks in a row and getting dethroned by Alien: Covenant just this weekend.
You still have a chance to see Tween Groot because Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is still in theaters. To learn more about the movie, check out everything we know about it.
