The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a behemoth place, with Spider-Man: Far From Home marking the whopping 23rd movie across over a decade of filmmaking. There are plenty of heroes to follow, but certain franchises stand out among the rest as fan favorites. Chief among them is James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, which debuted in 2014.
While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was put on hiatus following James Gunn's firing last July, he's since been reinstated to complete the trilogy. Fans are eager to see what will happen to the motley crew of heroes, particularly Bradley Cooper's Rocket. A new rumor indicates that Rocket's love interest from the comics Lylla may have a role in Vol. 3, possibly even played by none other than Lady Gaga.
Phase Four of the MCU is a total mystery, so there are plenty of rumors and theories floating around the internet. The latest regarding Guardians 3 indicates that Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga will once again play opposite each other, following their performances in A Star Is Born. Although this time it will be through voice roles, as Gaga could play Lylla in the developing threequel.
This report comes to us from Hollywood Life, and hasn't been confirmed in any official way. And while there's no guarantee that Gaga will indeed join the cast of the Guardians franchise, the rumor is sure to excite the countless moviegoers who have been following her collaboration with Bradley Cooper for A Star Is Born. The duo clearly worked well together, and rumors quickly began flying that their relationship was more that just friends/ co-workers.
These rumors picked up speed following Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's Oscars performance. And once Cooper split with his girlfriend Irina Shayk, the rumor seemed to gain more validity among the general public. Considering all this press, it would be a smart idea to bring Lady Gaga on to voice Lylla, if that character is indeed being adapted for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
In the comics, Lylla is a sentient Otter, not dissimilar to the Guardians' Rocket Raccoon. Her backstory is somewhat complicated on the page, with a toymaking species and war including an army of Killer Clowns. The cosmic side of Marvel can be weird, you guys. But she's got similar physiology and abilities as Rocket, and could serve as the love interest we never expected.
The rumor about Lady Gaga doesn't explicitly list Lylla as the character, so right now nothing is set in stone. But considering how strong the singer/actress' turn as Ally was, including an Oscar Nomination, it would be smart for James Gunn to scoop up Mother Monster to join his plucky group of heroes. Voicing a role would also be far less taxing than having to physically film the movie, making it helpful for her busy schedule and Las Vegas residency.
Related: Guardians Of The Galaxy's Real-Life Rocket Raccoon Has Died
Overall, it seems like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will put a heavy emphasis on Rocket. And in that sense, him finding a love interest (Lady Gaga or not) would stand to reason. Rocket is one of the most damaged characters in the cast, and has endured a ton of loss during his tenure in the MCU. Maybe the threequel will finally give him the peace he deserves.
James Gunn recently teased just how important Rocket's story will be for the upcoming Guardians threequel. In fact, its the narrative he's most excited to explore. As the reinstated director put it:
When you asked me what was saddest for me when I thought it was gone—and anybody at Marvel can tell you—it’s this very strange and attached relationship to Rocket. Rocket is me, he really is, even if that sounds narcissistic. Groot is like my dog. I love Groot in a completely different way. I relate to Rocket and I feel compassion for Rocket, but I also feel like his story has not been completed. He has an arc that started in the first movie, continued into the second and goes through Infinity War and Endgame, and then I was set to really finish that arc in Guardians 3. That was a big loss to me—not being able to finish that story—though I was comforted by the fact that they were still planning to use my script.
While discussing the time period where he was pulled from Guardians 3, James Gunn revealed that Rocket's story was the one he wanted to wrap up the most. Aside from his wise cracks and penchant for stealing limbs, Rocket is really at the heart of the Guardians franchise. His layers have been stripped away through his first four appearances in the MCU, and smart money says he'll be the heartbreaker for the next movie.
All you have to do is look at the ending of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to see how much the story is focused on Rocket Raccoon. That movie truly brings the group together as a family, with the final shot going to Rocket during Yondu's space funeral. Check it out below.
It's also no accident that Rocket and Nebula were the only Guardians to survive Thanos' snap in Avengers: Infinity War. Their shared loss brought those two outcasts together, while Rocket also developed a strong relationship with Thor. And with Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder possibly joining the group (The Asgardians of the Galaxy?), there should be extra opportunity for Rocket's vulnerability to come through. Although what's actually coming in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is still a complete mystery.
It's currently unclear when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will arrive, as Marvel Studios hasn't released its schedule for Phase Four. But with Spider-Man: Far From Home just days away, hopefully the wait is nearly over regarding the future of the shared universe. And once that happens, we can hopefully find out if the rumor about Lady Gaga's role in Guardians 3 can be either confirmed or denied.
Spider-Man: Far From Home will arrive in theaters on July 2nd, finishing up Phase Three of the MCU in the process. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
