Ever since the news spread that Disney+ would be spinning the MCU off into a variety of streaming TV shows, it seems like just about every superhero, supervillain and all their mothers have been rumored to get a standalone series for the still-young service. Much of the rumor mill is filled with hyperbolic fan-wishes and WTF-ness, and one of the latest high-concept reports concerns a Disney+ TV series centered on Guardians of the Galaxy's Rocket Raccoon, the beloved Groot and a comic character we haven't seen in live-action before.
For this rumored Rocket Raccoon and Groot TV show, it's proposed that the intergalactic duo would be joined by another one of Marvel's off-centered mercenaries, Blackjack O'Hare. As the leader of the Black Bunny Brigade, the Halfworld-bred hare has often been a rival to Rocket Raccoon in the comics. As such, if we live in a world where Disney+ would dedicate a full TV project to Rocket and Groot, Blackjack O'Hare is a logical and fun choice for a series antagonist. I want this show!
Blackjack O'Hare was first introduced in 1982 in The Incredible Hulk #271, and by all accounts is currently dead in the comics after Rocket Raccoon Vol. 2 #4, in which he was blown up by a missile. While the character wasn't exactly like Rocket Raccoon, he did share quite a few traits with the Guardians team member, such as being skilled with weaponry and gadgets, as well as having particularly sordid sense of humor. It would kind of be amazing if Bradley Cooper also voiced Blackjack, or maybe someone doing a Cooper impression.
But how likely is any of this? The news comes from the group Geekosity: All Things Pop Culture, specifically from Marvel and DC insider Mikey Sutton, whose frequent-enough accuracy is recognized by many. That isn't to say everything that he's shared over the years has come to magical fruition. But in a situation like this, where we're talking about an idea as badass as a Rocket Raccoon vs. Blackjack O'Hare TV show, the fanatical part of my brain wants to give everyone the benefit of the doubt here.
There's no real timeline for exactly when this rumored project would come together, in the sense of it falling before or after James Gunn's impending Guardians of the Galaxy 3. That movie itself still doesn't have a hard production window, since Gunn is gearing up for the release of the softly rebooted DCEU sequel The Suicide Squad, which currently has an August 6, 2021 release date.
The idea in the rumor report is that a potential Rocket Raccoon and Groot (and Blackjack O'Hare) TV show likely wouldn't start up its own production until after Guardians of the Galaxy 3 made its way to theaters. That makes sense from one timing perspective, since no one can be sure yet where Guardians 3 will take those characters. What if we're dealing with a Baby Rocket by the time the trilogy wraps?
Disney+ and Marvel have mostly played things close to the vest, choosing to unveil multi-headed announcements rather than a new show here and a new show there. (That's how we got the fantastic news about Moon Knight, She-Hulk, and Ms. Marvel.) So it's not likely fans would hear anything about a Rocket and Groot TV show by itself. But considering we're still years away from what the rumored production start, that gives Disney+ execs enough time to come up with a few other solid new ideas for shows.
For now, there's already a solid slate of Marvel shows to look forward to, including WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki, along the with aforementioned trio. And that's outside of all the Star Wars projects coming in the next few years. In need of something on TV sooner than that? Our Winter and Spring premiere schedule should help you out.
