Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Film · 2023 · 150 minutes · Phase Five
Rocket Raccoon is critically wounded in an attack by Adam Warlock, and the Guardians learn that the High Evolutionary — the scientist who genetically engineered Rocket as a test subject — installed a kill switch blocking his healing. To obtain an override code, the team infiltrates Orgocorp and the High Evolutionary's Counter-Earth, with flashbacks revealing Rocket's origin and the deaths of his fellow test-subject companions. After rescuing Rocket and freeing other experimented-on creatures, the Guardians disband: Peter Quill returns to Earth, Gamora rejoins the Ravagers, and the remaining team regroups under new leadership.
Follows on from
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2direct-sequel — Direct continuity from the same Guardians team based on Knowhere; Yondu's sacrifice in Vol. 2 remains settled history.
- Avengers: Endgamecrossover — This film's Gamora is the alternate-timeline 2014 variant who arrived in the present via the Avengers' time heist in Endgame, since the original Gamora died in Infinity War; Vol. 3's Gamora subplot depends on that Endgame plot point.
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Specialdirect-sequel · optional — Introduces Cosmo the Spacedog, the team's purchase of Knowhere and Mantis's relationship to Quill, all of which Vol. 3 takes as already established.