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The Final Mission: Every Major Star And Shocking Newcomer In The Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Cast

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The curtain call for the original Guardians of the Galaxy team was one of the most emotional events in recent MCU history, making the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 the subject of intense focus even now, in late December 2025. The film, which served as writer/director James Gunn's final project with the team, not only delivered a powerful, definitive ending for several beloved characters but also introduced two major, highly-anticipated figures from the Marvel Comics universe, forever changing the cosmic landscape of the franchise.

This comprehensive look at the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 cast goes beyond the main crew, detailing the new actors who stepped into pivotal roles and confirming which stars have officially closed their chapters in the MCU, providing the freshest and most complete picture of the final ensemble.

The Core Crew and New Cosmic Power Players: A Complete Biography List

The third installment saw the return of the iconic main cast, alongside two monumental additions who drove the film's central conflict. Below is a detailed look at the key actors and their characters in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, including biographical highlights and notable works outside the MCU.

  • Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord
    • Born: June 21, 1979 (Virginia, USA)
    • Nationality: American
    • Notable Works: Parks and Recreation (TV Series), Jurassic World franchise, The Lego Movie (Voice), Zero Dark Thirty.
    • Role in Vol. 3: The heartbroken leader grappling with the loss of his Gamora and leading the desperate mission to save Rocket.
  • Zoe Saldaña as Gamora
    • Born: June 19, 1978 (New Jersey, USA)
    • Nationality: American
    • Notable Works: Avatar franchise (Neytiri), Star Trek reboot series (Uhura), Center Stage.
    • Role in Vol. 3: The alternate, 2014 version of Gamora, who has no emotional connection to the Guardians, but eventually aids them.
  • Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer
    • Born: January 18, 1969 (Washington D.C., USA)
    • Nationality: American
    • Notable Works: Former WWE Professional Wrestler, Dune, Blade Runner 2049, Army of the Dead.
    • Role in Vol. 3: The muscle of the team, whose journey concludes with a surprising and emotional new purpose.
  • Karen Gillan as Nebula
    • Born: November 28, 1987 (Inverness, Scotland)
    • Nationality: Scottish
    • Notable Works: Doctor Who (Amy Pond), Jumanji film series, Oculus.
    • Role in Vol. 3: The reformed sister of Gamora, who has become a key, compassionate member of the team.
  • Pom Klementieff as Mantis
    • Born: May 3, 1986 (Quebec City, Canada)
    • Nationality: French
    • Notable Works: Oldboy (2013), Mission: Impossible franchise, Uncut Gems.
    • Role in Vol. 3: The empath who discovers her own strength and emotional independence by the film's end.
  • Will Poulter as Adam Warlock (Newcomer)
    • Born: January 28, 1993 (London, UK)
    • Nationality: English
    • Notable Works: The Maze Runner, The Revenant, We're the Millers, Dopesick (TV Series).
    • Role in Vol. 3: The Sovereign's immensely powerful, artificially created being, introduced as an antagonist but evolving into a complex figure.
  • Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary (Newcomer)
    • Born: October 15, 1975 (Nigeria/UK)
    • Nationality: Nigerian-British
    • Notable Works: Peacemaker (Clemson Murn), Royal Shakespeare Company (Associate Artist), The Split (TV Series).
    • Role in Vol. 3: The main antagonist, a brilliant but ruthless geneticist responsible for Rocket Raccoon's tragic origin story.

The Emotional Endings: Why Major Cast Members Are Leaving the MCU

One of the most significant and fresh pieces of information surrounding the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the confirmed departure of two major actors from their respective roles, marking a true farewell for this iteration of the team.

Director James Gunn confirmed that the film was the last time audiences would see Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer and Zoe Saldaña as Gamora.

Bautista has been vocal about his desire to move on from the role, citing the physically demanding makeup process and feeling that Drax’s story had reached a natural conclusion.

In the film's ending, Drax's arc is completed not with a heroic death, but with a profound life change. He chooses to stay on the reformed planet of Knowhere to raise the children rescued from the High Evolutionary, finding his true purpose as "Drax the Destroyer... of sadness."

Zoe Saldaña's departure is tied to the unique plot of Vol. 3. The Gamora we see is the 2014 version, who was pulled forward in time and has none of the memories or affection for Peter Quill and the Guardians. Her ending sees her choosing to leave the team to find her own path with the Ravagers, finally free of Thanos's shadow and the original Guardians' history. Saldaña has expressed that she is "done" with the role, though she remains open to an eventual return if the circumstances—and the story—were right.

This finality for two core members is what gives the Vol. 3 cast its unique, bittersweet legacy.

The Introduction of Adam Warlock and The High Evolutionary

The most compelling new additions to the cast were the cosmic figures who drove the entire plot. Their casting was highly anticipated and represented a major step in expanding the MCU's cosmic mythology.

Will Poulter's Adam Warlock: A Golden Antagonist

The introduction of Adam Warlock was teased in the post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) created him to destroy the Guardians.

Will Poulter, a respected actor known for his dramatic roles, was cast as the golden-skinned superhuman. Poulter's portrayal captured Warlock's initial immaturity and brute force, as he was essentially a newborn being with god-like power.

The character's journey in the film sees him transition from a reckless, single-minded weapon of the Sovereign to a more heroic, if still naive, figure who ultimately joins the new iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy team in the post-credits scene. This shift ensures Adam Warlock remains a key entity in the future of the MCU, a fresh face among the cosmic heroes.

Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary: A New Tier of Villainy

Chukwudi Iwuji delivered a genuinely terrifying performance as the High Evolutionary, the brilliant but sociopathic creator of Rocket Raccoon and the architect of Counter-Earth.

Iwuji, a veteran of the stage and known to DC fans for his role in Peacemaker, brought a Shakespearean intensity to the role of a villain obsessed with creating a perfect society through forced evolution.

The High Evolutionary is the emotional core of the film, as his past connection to Rocket and his cruelty towards the anthropomorphic animals of his experiments (like Lylla the Otter and Teefs the Walrus) provides the emotional stakes for the entire team. His character is a pivotal entity, representing a new type of MCU villain focused on genetic manipulation and cosmic domination, rather than Infinity Stones.

The Future of the Guardians: The New Cast Lineup

The ending of Vol. 3 officially dissolved the original team, with each member going their separate way. However, a post-credits scene unveiled a new, revamped roster, ensuring the "Guardians of the Galaxy" name lives on in the MCU. This new cast includes:

  • Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper): The new captain of the team.
  • Groot (Vin Diesel): Rocket's loyal right-hand man.
  • Kraglin Obfonteri (Sean Gunn): Taking up Yondu's mantle and arrow.
  • Cosmo the Spacedog (Maria Bakalova): The telekinetic dog, previously seen on Knowhere.
  • Adam Warlock (Will Poulter): The newly reformed cosmic powerhouse.
  • Phyla-Vell (Kai Zen): A super-powered child rescued from the High Evolutionary, who is a major hero in the comics.

This "New Guardians of the Galaxy" lineup, featuring a mix of familiar faces and new entities like Adam Warlock and Phyla-Vell, represents the freshest update to the cast list since the film's release. It confirms that while the original story is over, the cosmic adventures of the Guardians—and their cast—will continue to evolve in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

guardians of the galaxy cast 3
guardians of the galaxy cast 3

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