This iteration of the team may have reached its end, but Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is remaining strong at the box office. It seems like fans can’t get enough of this latest chapter in the Guardians’ story from James Gunn. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 does a fantastic job of wrapping up the emotional core of this rag-tag team while leaving room in the cosmos for more adventures. One of the biggest questions after the conclusion of Vol. 3 is when we might see these characters return to the screen. At this time, there is no confirmation of the return of any of the Guardians, except one: The Legendary Star-Lord.
[Warning: Some spoilers discussed for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 below]
As the post-credit scene draws to a close, the familiar Guardians font appears, announcing that Star-Lord, a.k.a. Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) retirement on Earth with his grandfather isn’t meant to last. So where can we expect Star-Lord to return? Well, we have a few ideas of where he might pop up next.
Avengers: Secret Wars seems likely
The most obvious answer is that Star-Lord will show up once again in one of the big two crossover films coming in Phases 5 and 6. While there are technically two such films coming in the next few years, Avengers: Kang Dynasty seems less likely, seeing that film is focusing on newer MCU heroes rather than legacy ones. Avengers: Secret Wars, however, much like Avengers: Endgame, will focus on heroes long established in the MCU, bringing about the conclusion of the second chapter.
With Secret Wars serving as the conclusion to The Multiverse Saga, it stands to reason that everyone and anyone involved will appear somewhere in the epic finale. With the Multiverse collapsing, and what I assume would be the creation of Battleworld, heroes will be scattered across the new globe. Together, forming a team of multiversal Avengers, the heroes will need to stop Kang before it’s too late. Star-Lord would fit so well onto the team, bringing epic action and hilarious comedic relief, in true space-cowboy fashion.
Avengers: Secret Wars also poses an interesting idea as well, with Battleworld comprised of a plethora of universes, meaning that we could potentially see multiple versions of Star-Lord appear. Perhaps we’ll see a Peter Quill who never left Earth, which could be a far call from the one we know. Or even a Quill who is married to Gamora with children. A family of Guardians protecting the universe. The possibilities are endless with which versions of Star-Lord could show up, Secret Wars seems likely for a Pratt appearance.
Nova and the Legendary Star-Lord
While Nova hasn’t been announced yet from Marvel Studios, and with the change in storytelling due to restructuring at Disney, it’s quite possible this project is still a bit off. However, the Legendary Star-Lord would fit in so well with this project.
In the comics, Sam Alexander comes into possession of his father’s Black Nova Helmet, searching for his missing father. Using the helmet, Sam learns to harness the powers of the nova helmet, becoming a hero in his own right, even if he is just a child. However, like all novice heroes, he has help on his journey to heroism, in the shape of two Guardians of the Galaxy. Gamora and Rocket Raccoon.
The duo works together, training Sam in combat and how to utilize the powers bestowed on him from the helmet. In the MCU, Gamora is off with the Ravagers, having left the Guardians after their mission to save Rocket. As well, Rocket is busy leading the Guardians of the Galaxy, meaning he’ll be a bit busy.
Instead, Peter could fill the position of these two, serving as a mentor to young Sam as he tacks up the mantle of Nova. Picture this, Peter living peacefully with his grandfather, however, notices a young kid with a helmet that Quill’s quite familiar with. It would be a full circle moment, as the Nova Corp was first introduced back in the Guardians of the Galaxy before they, along with Xander, were decimated off-screen. It would also show how far Peter’s come since the first film, potentially taking him back to the cosmos and on to his next adventures among the stars.
Could Star-Lord show up in Deadpool 3?
This Marvel Studios film is probably a long shot, however, it could be a fun place for Star-Lord to return. Not much is known about Deadpool 3 at this time, with the exception of the return of much of the principal cast from the first two films, along with Hugh Jackman’s return as Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine. It’s also believed that Deadpool, who is from the previously established Fox Marvel characters, is making a transition to the MCU proper throughout the film.
It would be interesting to see some of our beloved MCU heroes appear in this film, either in the world inhabited by Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and the rest of the mutants, or across the multiverse as Deadpool and Wolverine jump across to the MCU. Similar to Avengers: Secret Wars, a film about multiverse hopping has the potential for multiple versions of these characters.
Working on a film such as Deadpool 3 will harken back to Pratt’s roots, who was a comedic hit on Park and Rec. Seems like a no-brainer and easy win for Marvel Studios. Regardless of when Star-Lord returns, it’ll be a moment that fans of Guardians of the Galaxy eagerly await.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is currently in theaters! Where do you think Star-Lord will show up next? Let us know on Twitter or in the Cosmic Circus Discord. And if you haven’t already, check out our theory about what’s next from Mantis after Vol. 3!
Post GOTG Vol. 3 Theory: Mantis and The Celestial Madonna
