How Many Post-Credits Scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy 3?
Alright, alright, the short answer: 2. The longer answer: Still 2, but also, stick around for some analysis. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is in theaters now. The latest Guardians of the Galaxy adventure is a story that deals with difficult pasts and second chances.
Of course, our favorite space morons have plenty of fun along the way, but this closing film in James Gunn’s trilogy also brings a fleet of heartfelt moments. Here’s a breakdown of both post-credits scenes and what they could mean for the team’s future.
SPOILER ALERT! Discussion of GotG Vol. 3‘s plot and post-credits scenes ahead.
GotG Vol. 3 Post-Credits Scene 1
The first Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 post-credits scene shows Rocket Raccoon and Groot with a new lineup of Guardians: Adam Warlock, Cosmo, Kraglin, Blurp, and a young girl whose fists glow with cosmic energy. The team is on a rocky, desert-like planet defending some aliens from feral predators. We also get a glimpse of a new form for Groot. He’s disguised as a boulder but quickly straightens up into a towering new stature.
Of course, those new members are the first focus of the scene. Kraglin and Cosmo are no surprise, but Rocket (the new leader of the Guardians) has also taken in Adam, his furry friend Blurp, and one of the children created by the High Evolutionary. Though she isn’t referred to by name in the movie, eagle-eyed viewers can spot a cast credit for a character named “Phyla.” But who’s Phyla?
Who Is Phyla?
In the Marvel comics, Phyla is known as Phyla-Vell. When we see her power up in the first post-credits scene for GotG Vol. 3, one of her eyes glows just as it does in the comics. Plus, a familiar-looking cosmic energy swirls around her fists. As you might have guessed, the comics version of this character is affiliated with Captain Marvel and her Kree lineage.
Unlike her comics counterpart, the MCU’s Phyla is (most likely) not the daughter of the original Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) and a Titan-Eternal hybrid. Instead, she comes from the High Evolutionary’s lab. However, who’s to say he didn’t use some Kree DNA?
Phyla as Captain Marvel
Phyla’s comics history is, unsurprisingly, complicated. On Earth-616, she must deal with her cosmically insane brother, Genis-Vell, and later she joins the Guardians of the Galaxy. With the Guardians, she fights against enemies like Galactus, Ultron, and eventually Adam Warlock’s evil form, Magus. She dies at the hands of Magus.
However, there’s also another version of Phyla-Vell from Earth-18897. In her reality, she was the universe’s Captain Marvel. This version ends up traveling to the 616 because of Gamora’s meddling with the Infinity Stones. There, she also joins the Guardians. In both of her multiversal forms, Phyla is accompanied by her lover, the telepath Moondragon.
GotG Vol. 3 Post-Credits Scene 2
At the end of the movie’s credits, after the very last credits roll, we get a glimpse into Peter Quill’s new life on Earth with his grandpa. They’re sitting at the table eating breakfast. Peter slurps cereal loudly while Grandpa Quill reads the newspaper. If you look closely, you’ll notice the paper’s top headline is an alien abduction story from Kevin Bacon — you know, when Mantis and Drax kidnapped him in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special?
Anyway, the scene itself mostly just shows how Peter is enjoying quiet time to reconnect with his Earth family. He and his grandpa discuss normal stuff, like mowing the neighbor’s lawn. However, a last screen does flash the message: The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return.
Will There Be More Guardians of the Galaxy?
Most likely, the Guardians team will all return in some way. Though their final parting was bittersweet, all of the characters’ fates are left open-ended enough that they could, potentially, return.
Rocket and Groot will be busy leading a new set of Guardians. Quill is on Earth reconnecting with his human side. Nebula and Drax will have their hands full overseeing Knowhere while Mantis is off finding herself. And Gamora is happy to be back among her Ravager family. But if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that misfit desperados are always up for an encore.
Now that we’ve cracked open all the details like a bag of Zarg Nuts, what are your predictions for the future of the Guardians? After all, it’s a big galaxy out there — still plenty of room for misadventures.
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