Guardians of the Galaxy began as one of least likely successes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with a little-known team of heroes and a cast of which the biggest stars were never even seen on screen. Then it came out and was a critical and commercial success. It was followed up by Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, a surprisingly entertaining, intricately-plotted performance resulting in one of the funniest MCU installments yet.
Balancing a cast that large with enough action, poignant emotion, and belly laughs was truly a work of art. It made rising stars of its lesser-known cast members. The future of the third volume in the series is now unclear, with the termination of writer and director James Gunn. Thankfully Gunn didn't carry the success of the film solely on his own back, and we have the film's highly talented crew, along with the cast who brought its characters to life, to thank.
The Guardians of the Galaxy films feature more A-listers than many other MCU movies, several of them playing completely CGI characters, and some of them definitely brought their A-game along for the ride. Others were surprise successes, earning them whole new fan followings and most-shared meme statuses. A few actors, on the other hand, hurt the films in various ways, from being major impediments in the film to making us wonder why they were even cast in the first place.
Here are 8 Casting Decisions That Hurt Guardians Of The Galaxy (And 17 That Saved It).
25 Saved: Sean Gunn As Kraglin Obfonteri
Kraglin was the only Ravager who claims to not have meant to pull a mutiny on his captain, Yonda, whom he'd defended in the past, but he also had some pretty quirky moments in the film.
His little exchange with Nebula about the possibility of a new hat gave him some humanity, and Sean Gunn's delivery during the moment, along with the silly scene where he attempts to whistle at Yondu's Yaka Arrow, really secured his presence with the rest of the team as someone who could be both dangerous as well as hilarious. Hopefully we'll get to see Kraglin again.
24 Saved: Dave Bautista As Drax
With his blunt declarations, fearlessness to the point of idiocy, and complete lack of shame, Drax is easily the most beloved character in the series.
Dave Bautista is incredible in the role, proving once again that professional wrestlers can be talented actors.
His look is completely transformed in the role, and his deadpan delivery of Drax's lines, already some of the funniest in the MCU, is perfect. Whether he's describing the beauty of his own conception, boldly offering his own life in battle, or giving us that hilarious explosive laugh, Bautista is an actor we hope stays with the series until its end.
23 Hurt: Lee Pace As Ronan
Ronan the Accuser should have instilled fear into our hearts, but many of us just couldn't see past Lee Pace's performance and lack of conviction with the character. The Kree fanatic starts off strong in the film but the only truly menacing things he does are off-screen.
With the exception of his fight with Drax, which really doesn't even demonstrate how dangerous Ronan should be in the first place, Ronan is a lot like The Dark Knight's Bane, who keeps telling people how big and terrible he is without a true demonstration. Pace is returning to the the role in the Captain Marvel film, so we may seem some stronger stuff yet.
22 Saved: Elizabeth Debicki As Ayesha
This arrogant golden figurehead was the perfect villain for the rag-tag Guardians of the Galaxy to come up against in Vol. 2.
Elizabeth Debicki portrayed the snooty, self-absorbed Ayesha so well that we couldn't wait to see her get her comeuppance.
While the Sovereign were more minor villains in Vol. 2 and never felt like they posed a significant threat on the level of Ego, Debicki left a lasting impression as Ayesha, so that the film's post-credit scene left us hoping for her reappearance.
21 Saved: Chris Pratt As Star-Lord
During the first film, Chris Pratt caught viewers off-guard as Peter Quill. He transformed his body to better fit the heroic role of Star-Lord and hit the A-list after his humor and roguish charm won audiences over.
But Pratt really fleshed out the role and by the second film, he became synonymous with Peter Quill. In fact, by Avengers: Infinity War, Pratt was not only accepted as Quill but even vilified for being too Quill and putting his feelings for Gamora before saving the entire universe.
20 Hurt: Chris Sullivan As Taserface
It's a ridiculous name for a ridiculous villain, which is the point, but it's also a throwaway moment to make such a ridiculous villain seem formidable enough to take out half of Yondu's crew without much of a fight. The mutiny itself seemed as much of a joke as Taserface's moniker and lack of scare factor.
How could someone so ridiculous pose a threat to anyone?
Chris Sullivan's part seemed a waste, particularly with heavier hitters at play throughout the movie. Ultimately that's probably why he was cast that way in the first place: to make the Sovereign and Ego appear deadlier.
19 Saved: Seth Green As Howard The Duck
"You're out of luck until you've got duck," Seth Green told us as the voice of Howard the Duck in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. While Green's cameo could easily be chalked up as a frivolous addition, there are two scenes featuring the duck, indicating that Howard may come into play later on in the series.
With this in mind, we're excited about the idea of Seth Green portraying Howard the Duck in future films. Green has the comedic chops combined with the acerbic wit needed to pull off a talking duck. Hearing him in the role makes us excited about future prospects.
18 Saved: Karen Gillan As Nebula
Karen Gillan in any film pretty much saves it these days. Post-Amy Pond, the actress has a steady following among several fandoms, and managed to even convert those who prematurely hated the new Jumanji film. She also happens to be a talented actress who can pull off the beloved characters of a genre story, whether it's the adopted daughter of the Mad Titan Thanos or the mother of River Song.
We can't wait to see what happens with Nebula in the next installment and what role Gillan will play.
She may just take Thanos down yet.
17 Hurt: Steve Agee As Gef
Gef is one of the more annoying Ravagers, so it makes sense for the actor playing him to act as annoying as possible. Steve Agee manages to sound like a duller Andy Dick in the process of playing the dim-witted villain, which would work great if it didn't also distract a bit from the film at the same time.
Agee likely played the role as instructed, but perhaps another performer could've brought a more entertaining angle to the character amidst the annoyance.
16 Hurt: Benicio Del Toro As The Collector
Benicio Del Toro might have served the cast well under another character, or even under another writer. The Collector he became garishly ostentatious, particularly in the wardrobe department, unlike the "altruistic" Collector, who seemed to truly care about preserving species, never mind the means by which they were preserved.
While a unique take on the character, it did nothing to enhance the film.
The collection itself, from the Dark Elf to Cosmo, was really fun to see, though, making it one of the best Easter eggs in the MCU.
15 Saved: Zoe Saldana As Gamora
The most deadly woman in the entire galaxy-- Zoe Saldana didn't have her work cut out for her at all. Nailing Gamora's steely gaze, combat skills, and ferocity seemed to be easy for the actress, who is no stranger to playing a lithe and fierce warrior.
It was the compilation of Gamora's complicated history, from her nefarious adoption and execution of her adoptive father's will to her guilt and desire to make all of her past wrongs right, that were the real challenge of portraying the iconic character. Most fans feel that Saldana did well.
14 Saved: Pom Klementieff As Mantis
Mantis was the most beloved character introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Hilarious in a way that women often aren't allowed to be in films, her slapstick comedy and innocence drew surprising tears of laughter from many a viewer.
Too many Marvel women are portrayed as flawless vixens and Mantis's silliness was a very welcome change.
While Pom Klementieff definitely had help between her makeup and wardrobe department, her line delivery was perfect, and she conveyed Mantis's range of emotions so adroitly we weren't left wanting for anything.
13 Hurt: Rob Zombie As An Unseen Ravager
The use of huge names in tiny roles has been popular since Matt Parker and Trey Stone cast George Clooney as a dog in South Park, but it ultimately seems pointless and sometimes even unnecessarily wasteful. Case in point: Rob Zombie was in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as the voice of the Ravagers' GPS.
James Gunn fans know that zombie was in the director's first film, Slither, and has made cameos in everything ever since, but it's more of a Gunn fan nod than a Marvel one.
12 Saved: Vin Diesel As Groot
While the casting of Vin Diesel could be chalked up as one of those wasted big names in a small role, many fans cheer at the prospect of the alien being voiced by the Fast and the Furious favorite.
The fact that it's the actor's real voice used as Baby Groot makes fans enjoy the role even more.
Diesel fell in love with the role after seeing the stunning concept art, but also upon realizing that his role wouldn't be as intensive as he thought it might be for six months of work.
11 Saved: Michael Rooker As Yondu
It was the upset of the MCU. Who ever thought that Yondu Udonta would become a fan favorite? With Michael Rooker in the role, there's some explanation as to how. Rooker is a fantastic actor-- so fantastic that Merle wasn't even offed without returning to cause some havoc later in The Walking Dead.
Rooker's Yondu is one of the most complicated characters in the MCU smack in the middle of the golden age of anti-heroes. Fans were clamoring for a Yondu Mary Poppins film, so Marvel may want to deliver.
10 Hurt: Miley Cyrus As Mainframe's Voice
It's another weird casting choice that probably cost much more than it was worth: Miley Cyrus was the voice of Mainframe, the robot head who speaks a single line at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but how many people even know that? And if you do know it, do you give two shakes of Rocket's tail about it?
Casting Cyrus doesn't seem to offer the film anything in terms of star power, especially since it wasn't used to hype up the film.
While little Easter eggs and cameos sprinkled throughout the movies are fun for fans, Cyrus isn't Stan Lee and really seems out of place in this throw-in.
9 Saved: Laura Haddock As Meredith Quill
Meredith Quill is free, fun-loving and lovely, every bit the sweet Midwestern girl who won Ego's heart, or the bit of it he was willing to give, at least. Laura Haddock is the epitome of vivacious youth as she meets Ego, and later is the perfect mother for Peter Quill. It's easy to see why she was cast a Meredith. It's not a difficult role to play, particularly in the second film, but she does so with genuine charm.
Agee is another actor with previous working experience with Gunn, having worked with the director in the film Super.
8 Saved: Kurt Russell As Ego
First of all, how perfect is Kurt Russell as Chris Pratt's father? He might as well adopt him now. Secondly, how could we not love to hate such a self-absorbed character with Russell's face?
He's not a stranger to villainy, but he's usually a pretty All-American hero.
We believed Ego as both the love-struck god who fell for a Missouri woman and the egotistical maniac who apparently named himself after the most important thing in his life. Russell brought him to life and it's almost a shame that he was defeated in a single movie.
7 Saved: Michael Rosenbaum As Martinex
No, Martinex T'Naga doesn't seem like he's very important at the moment, but the Pluvian is a member of the 31st century Guardians of the Galaxy. He may have been introduced for the future of the series; we know he's affiliated with the Avengers and we know that the team is going to shrink soon, which may involve more members of the crew than just Captain America.
Michael Rosenbaum didn't have a big part to play, but he certainly looked promising as the crystalline scientist who hails from Cerberus Center, Pluto.
6 Hurt: Glenn Close As Nova Prime
It's a role so wasted it makes us cringe. Glenn Close as anyone in Marvel seems like a dream, but Irani Rael, known only as Nova Prime in the film, wasn't a part worthy of her. No doubt she's a strong leader, but she's certainly not one we'll get to see on the big screen often.
Rael made several appearances but why waste someone of Close's talents on a single film appearance?
Close herself isn't a casting choice that's bad for the film, but using her in a castaway gig hurts the movie.
5 Saved: Bradley Cooper As Rocket
Who knew that Bradley Cooper had the soul of a wise-guy trash panda? You can only hear his presence in Rocket Raccoon's voice if you listen hard, which just points toward Cooper's vocal talents in the film.
The challenge of playing Rocket is not only getting the smart alec slant just right, but also weaving in both the cruel jokester who enjoys pilfering fake appendages and the gruffly sensitive friend who can speak baby Groot. In short, it's a more difficult job than it appears on the surface and Cooper pulled it off.
4 Saved: Tommy Flanagan As Tullk
Tommy Flanagan had an interesting look and accent that should've landed him a much more interesting, possibly villainous role in Vol. 2 than Tullk.
Perhaps Taserface should have been played by Flanagan, who's been in everything from Braveheart to Sons of Anarchy.
The loss of all of the Ravagers, including Tullk, was senseless and seemed to only serve to foreshadow Yondu's demise later in the film. Kraglin could have used a few to command later, but we'll see if he returns.
3 Hurt: Sylvester Stallone As Stakar Ogord
Was Sylvester Stallone really the person to play Stakar Ogord? He doesn't seem to really epitomize the idea of a Ravager. In fact, it seems as if he should be looking up to Yondu instead of the other way around.
While a star undergoing investigation by the Los Angeles crimes task force in June of 2018 isn't something casting agents could foresee happening on a film that came out in April of 2017, the idea of Stallone possibly assaulting a teenager definitely ruins the intended effect of any scene he's in.
2 Saved: Michelle Yeoh As Aleta Ogord
Another surprise guest star in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is Michelle Yeoh, who briefly portrayed Aleta Ogord at the end of the film. There's really no need for that ending scene unless the Ravagers will be much more prominently featured in an upcoming film.
Aleta, an Arcturan and wife of Ravager captain Stakar Ogord, would be a pretty awesome character come to life.
Yeoh served to excite fans who hope to see more of Ogord, also known as Starhawk, in the future.
1 Saved: Jimmy Urine As Halfnut
Halfnut is an aptly-named henchman who gives the Ravagers the insane, spider-eating traitor that they need in order to look like a true mutinous bunch. Jimmy Urine, who also wrote the song "Un Deye Gon Hayd (The Unloved Song)", which plays while the Ravagers are on Contraxia on holiday, pulls off the Ravager with the kind of electropunk look that fans of the singer-songwriter might already expect.
Halfnut may be one of the most crazed among Taserface's followers, but his mutinous proclivities ultimately earn him Yondu's Yaka Arrow straight through the chest.
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