The world’s favorite band of intergalactic explorers is back in the highly-anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, set to release in cinemas across the UAE on May 4th. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, so does the love that fans have for their quirky and eccentric characters, especially for this group of gun-toting, self-serving anti-heroes that quickly became a worldwide box office sensation upon the release of Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014. There’s a lot to look forward to with Volume 2 just around the corner!
Story and Character Building:
After the massive success of the first installment, director James Gunn had a chance to work out the kinks and enhance what viewers seemed to like. It seemed almost unanimous that the lighthearted, comical tone was a success, as well as the selfish aspect of the team’s motives. After so many superhero films featuring selfless, valiant characters, audiences enjoyed the change to more morally ambiguous personalities. Characters like Nebula and Yondu will see their reappearance in Volume 2, although their roles are still unknown.
Another element that fans wanted to see more of was Peter Quill’s father, who was only mentioned in the first film, with descriptions such as “not of this world,” and “an angel.” When it was revealed at the end that Peter is only half human, Gunn set up the plot of the sequel, which will focus on discovering the truth behind Peter’s parentage, taking the team to the far reaches of the universe on their quest of discovery.
Awesome Mix Volume 2:
Perhaps one of the biggest fan favourites that the production team hopes to utilize was the film’s soundtrack, which sold over 1,000,000 copies after it was released, and reached the top of the Billboard 200. The backdrop of Volume 2 will be set to Awesome Mix Vol. 2, which is a sequel to the original mixtape in its own right. Rumours have been circulating that songs such as It’s Raining Men will make an appearance in Volume 2, but so far, any hints towards possible songs is merely speculation, as the tracklist has not been released yet.
Makeup and Costumes:
Due to their more civilian role in the Marvel Universe, the Guardians will be wearing more casual, practical garments for Volume 2. However, the real challenge for the costume designers was the Ravagers, who play a more antagonistic role, and must dress the part of the sinister space criminals they are without causing too much strain on the budget. It’s estimated that nearly 400 garments were made for the 200 Ravagers that appear. For characters such as Mantis, who makes her first appearance, they opted for a less human, more alien-esque style, using techniques such as open-weaved leather.
In any good Sci-Fi movie set in space, a good SFX team is needed, and Volume 2 is no exception with its alien characters. In particular, Nebula was a real challenge, since Karen Gillan decided not to shave her head for her reprised role. However, after all their practice on the set of Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), the team perfected the makeup down to a science, shaving off countless hours in the makeup chair and clearing the way for even more incredible alien characters to be given the spotlight.
There’s a lot to look forward to for Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, and both longtime viewers and those new to the Marvel Universe will find something to enjoy about this eccentric group of space travellers!
