Groot vs. Hulk? Vin Diesel talks up spin-off movie for his Guardians of the Galaxy character
The most successful poster in Disney’s future is the poster that has Groot vs. Hulk, claims Diesel, who voices Baby Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but its director isn’t committing yet
Vin Diesel has very big plans for Groot.
The tree-like creature voiced by Diesel has been reborn as Baby Groot in writer-director James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Groot stole 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy as the sidekick of Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) before dying heroically and being reborn as diminutive Baby Groot.
Even though both Groots only say three words (“I am Groot”), Diesel is seeing spin-off possibilities.
Diesel, the spiritual centre of the Fast and Furious franchise, suggests that a Rocket and Groot spin-off discussion is under way. He especially likes the idea of a grown-up Groot fighting another green superhero, the Hulk.
“James Gunn has always wanted a Rocket and Groot movie,” Diesel says. “And I know that Disney is very much into being successful. And the most successful poster in Disney’s future is the poster that has Groot vs. Hulk. ... [The world] cannot wait to see it.”
When we asked Gunn about the Groot concept at Guardians’ world premiere in Hollywood last week, he didn’t completely shoot it down. But he did chuckle. “Vin has a lot of ideas. I don’t know where he comes up with these things,” Gunn said. “I love Vin.”
That won’t curb Diesel’s enthusiasm for the “super-popular” Groot and Baby Groot.
He can’t decide which one he likes better: “They are one in the same to me. It’s like saying, ‘Who do I like better, grade-school Vin or high-school Vin?’ Duh, they are the same, but high-school Vin could drive some fast cars.”
Diesel does predict that the “mature Groot” who will be seen in future instalments is going to be an even bigger force.
“The first Groot we saw was a freshman in college. This [Guardians 2] Groot is in nursery school. Wait ’til we see the full-fledged working-man Groot. Wait ’til we see Groot!”
