Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 episode "Love Isn't Always On Time." Stream it with a Max subscription and read at your own risk!

The Righteous Gemstones only has a few more episodes to wrap things up, so it's a good thing Danny McBride had an all-time great new character on tap, with Michael Rooker introduced as Lori Milsap's ex-husband Cobb. We learned he was responsible for the break-in at the family home where the Gemstone golden Bible was stolen, and it's clear Cobb is one bad dude. Which is indeed great for viewers.

I'm rather shocked it took four seasons for a Southern gem like Alabama native Michael Rooker to appear within The Righteous Gemstones as such a stellar character. Fortunately, his arrival on the 2025 TV schedule was better late than never, and Cobb is primed to be another obstacle in the way of Lori and Eli Gemstone's relationship. Michael Rooker has had Gemstones energy throughout his career as a character actor, and I have to wonder how long this casting choice has been in the cards.

Michael Rooker Is The Perfect Actor For The Righteous Gemstones

Michael Rooker is a beloved character actor, typically known for being intense and sometimes incredibly vulnerable. It's that style of acting that convinced me Yondu's death in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is my favorite out of all the major MCU deaths we've seen. His characters are often quick to anger, do a lot of shouting, and can even be funny. In short, he was born to be in The Righteous Gemstones, seeing as that's what most of the characters have done for four seasons straight.

Rooker is a golden talent and a great fit for the show, but maybe the price tag was too high to bring him in sooner than the final season. The actor has joked that his death on The Walking Dead was done by AMC because he was owed a pay bump going into the following season. Then again, The Righteous Gemstones footed the bill to get Bradley Cooper in for the final season's premiere, so one would think Rooker was always in the price range.

Is Rooker's Cobb Milsap The Person Eli Should Be Worried About?

Michael Rooker is a bad enough dude that he convinced me Yondu could defeat Thanos, so it's not hard to believe he's playing a villain in The Righteous Gemstones. That said, Cobb Milsap doesn't strike me as a particularly bright guy. I would be skeptical that he's managed to kill all of Lori's ex-boyfriends on his own and have my eye on someone else.

I think the true killer is Lori's son Corey, played by Seann William Scott. He's a bit too chill about the situation between Eli and his mother,and would be around when she was dating those other men before him. As for Cobb, I think he's probably destined to die in The Righteous Gemstones, similar to his deaths in The Walking Dead and in multiple James Gunn's movies. I'm ok with it this time, especially since the series is ending anyway, and he'll have no more opportunities to appear.

The Righteous Gemstones airs on HBO on Sundays at 10:00 p.m. ET. Tune in for more of Michael Rooker in the upcoming episode, and hopefully, more of BJ and his service monkey, Dr. Watson.

One of the most anticipated releases on the 2024 movie schedule — or should I say two of them — is Kevin Costner's return to directing for the western epic Horizon: An American Saga, which is currently set to release as a pair of war-stricken features. And now we finally know what to expect, thanks to the bullet-ridden, flame-covered, action-packed trailer seen above. Just don't call Costner's character John Dutton.

I mean, I don't know if it's entirely possible for anyone to watch this gigantic trailer for Horizon and not be immediately filled with Yellowstone-related comments and comparisons. After four and a half seasons of the Paramount Network neo-western, I now kind of think any cinematic shots of grassy and/or mountainous expanses west of the Mississippi will inevitably look like an exterior shot in the Yellowstone universe, whether we're talking about the mothership show or one of its history-exploring prequels. That'd be the case here, given the Civil War timeline, which actually predates any of the Dutton family's main narratives. (Save for war-torn flashbacks in 1883.)

Horizon: An American Saga is indeed set during the tumultuous years of this country's Civil War, but with more of a focus on western expansion as opposed to the plethora of battle sites pockmarked throughout the Eastern part of the U.S. And there are a ton of characters whose emotional experiences will take audiences deeper into what it felt like to defend and fight for this country during a time of great strife. Even for a trailer that went over three minutes, it still didn't seem like we saw all of the familiar faces that signed on for the film. 

Check out just part of the bonkers cast list for this movie, which reunites Costner with Yellowstone vets Will Patton and Danny Huston:

• Kevin Costner
• Sienna Miller
• Sam Worthington
• Giovanni Ribisi
• Jena Malone
• Abbey Lee
• Michael Rooker
• Danny Huston
• Luke Wilson
• Isabelle Fuhrman
• Jeff Fahey
• Will Patton
• Tatanka Means
• Owen Crow Shoe
• Ella Hunt
• Jamie Campbell Bower
• Thomas Haden Church
• Alejandro Edda
• Tom Payne
• Kathleen Quinlan
• Dale Dickey
• Hayes Costner

That's seriously just 2/3 of the core cast, many of whom can be seen in the extended trailer above. (Michael Rooker in a cowboy hat all day, all night.) Killers of the Flower Moon fans will probably recognize Tatanka Means, who is also set to star in the sequel to Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan's Wind River, though the latter is not involved. And it'll be fun to see Jamie Campbell Bower in Western mode ahead of his return as Vecna in Stranger Things Season 5.

As we previously reported, Horizon: An American Saga has an R rating, and the trailer certainly hints at why that's the case, even without showing a whole lot of violence and atrocities directly. Just the implication of families being burned alives in their homes is disturbing enough for me.

Horizon: An American Saga will hit theaters with its first part on Friday, June 28, with the second chapter reaching audiences on Friday, August 16, not even two months later. Expect for a lot of studio heads to be paying close attention to this release strategy to see how things shake out. 

And then Yellowstone fans can check out the final Season 5 episodes, currently without exiting star Kevin Costner, when they are set to arrive on Paramount Network near the end of 2024.

The opening shot of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is a rad one. The 2021 DC blockbuster opens on what appears to be a filtered image of Michael Rooker as Savant, but then the camera lifts and spins and we understand that our first look at the character was actually through the reflection in a muddy puddle. It’s a cool bit of cinematography that instantly delivers thematic information to the audience… and it notably wasn’t planned in any way by the filmmakers and came about from a happy accident on set.

I learned this cool behind-the-scenes story a few weeks ago at San Diego Comic-Con where I had the opportunity to sit down with production designer Beth Mickle. The filmmaker has worked with James Gunn multiple times – on films including The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the upcoming Superman: Legacy – and I asked about experiences with on-set inspiration in their collaboration. Mickle recounted the day on The Suicide Squad set when the crew was setting up for the movie’s first scene and how all the plans that had been made went out the window when a better idea came to mind. Said the filmmaker,

The set for the Suicide Squad scene in conversation here included concrete walls and a concrete floor featuring various “X” marks made of tape (which are used by Savant as ricochet targets for a rubber ball he tosses around). Beth Mickle didn’t specifically explain why the crew hosed the space down prior to shooting – perhaps to add a wetness to the scene or just to settle any dust in the air – and she didn’t tell me what the plan was prior to the moment of inspiration, but a simple puddle led to the generation of a great opening.

Every filmmaker has their own preferred way of working – whether it be with obsessive planning or just winging it – but it’s always movie magic when a mistake or an unexpected turn of events leads to something awesome. As Beth Mickle put it,

Fans of The Suicide Squad who want to now rewatch the film with this new knowledge in mind can do so in many different ways. The blockbuster is available to stream with a Max subscription, but you can also purchase the movie digitally (via Amazon, Vudu, Apple, or Google Play) or get it on 4K UHD, Blu-ray or DVD.

Those who dig Beth Mickle’s collaborations with James Gunn can also now enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 at home – with the film being streamable via a Disney+ subscription and also on digital platforms and physical media.

The first half of the 2023 Netflix movie schedule saw intense action thrillers like Extraction 2 and comedies like You People, and the second part of the year gets underway with a movie, Tyler Spindel’s The Out-Laws, that includes elements found in both of those releases. The movie, which stars Adam DeVine as a bank manager who believes his future in-laws are notorious bank robbers, is currently streaming for anyone with a Netflix subscription, and there’s a good chance you’re wondering where you’ve seen the actors before.

Below is a breakdown of the major players from The Out-Laws cast, which includes one of the best actors to play James Bond, a Tony Award-winning actress, a XXX: Return of Xander Cage star, and some comedy legends. Let’s break it all down now… 

Adam DeVine (Owen) 

First up is Adam DeVine, who appears in The Out-Laws as Owen, a bank manager whose future in-laws are believed to be a pair of criminals named the “Ghost Bandits.”

Best known for his portrayal of Adam DeKamp on the Comedy Central series, Workaholics, DeVine has also had a major role in the Pitch Perfect movies (as well as the Peacock spinoff series, Bumper in Berlin). Over the years, the actor has led shows like Adam DeVine’s House Party, Uncle Grandpa, Green Eggs and Ham, and countless others. His film credits include everything from Nancy Meyers’ The Intern to Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedilics, and so much more. 

Nina Dobrev (Parker)

Nina Dobrev appears as Owen’s fiancée, Parker, who ends up being held hostage after one of her parents’ latest scores ticks off the wrong person.

Dobrev has been a well-known name in the world of TV for the past couple of decades thanks to roles on shows like Degrassi: The Next Generation and The Vampire Diaries, on which she played not one, but two different characters throughout the series’ run. Over the years, the actress has also appeared in movies like XXX: Return of Xander Cage, The Perks of Being a Wallflower adaptation, Chloe, and a couple dozen others. 

Pierce Brosnan (Billy McDermott) 

Next up is Pierce Brosnan, who plays Parker’s bank-robbing dad, Billy McDermott.

Though instantly recognizable from his four James Bond movies (a role that is addressed in The Out-Laws trailer), Brosnan has a ton of other credits that would have made a great career even without having 007 tied to his name. Shows like Remington Steele, movies like Mrs. Doubtfire, The Thomas Crown Affair, and the Mamma Mia! musicals, all quickly come to mind. The actor has even appeared in several 007 video games throughout his career, including 2004’s James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, which featured his voice in addition to his likeness. 

Ellen Barkin (Lilly McDermott) 

Ellen Barkin shows up in The Out-Laws as Lilly McDermott, Owen’s soon-to-be mother-in-law and an accomplished bank robber.

Over the years, Barkin has made a name for herself on the big screen, on a number of TV shows, and in Broadway performances like the one in The Normal Heart, for which she earned a Tony Award. If you’re a fan of movies like Drop Dead Gorgeous, Ocean’s Thirteen, and even The Big Easy, then you more than likely recognized the actress. The same can be said about shows like The New Normal, Animal Kingdom, and the Peacock original series, Poker Face. 

Michael Rooker (FBI Agent Roger Oldham)

Michael Rooker portrays Roger Oldham, an FBI agent hot on the trail of the Ghost Bandits and their latest escapades.

From his appearances in some of the best Marvel movies to his time in The Walking Dead cast, there are a lot of reasons why Rooker looks so familiar. One of the best and most prolific character actors of our time, the frequent James Gunn collaborator has done a little bit of everything over the years, including classics like JFK, Eight Men Out, and even Cliffhanger, to name only a few. Seriously, he’s done it all. 

Richard Kind (Neil) 

Richard Kind is another prolific actor appearing in the film, where he can be seen playing Owen’s father, Neil.

Fans of Pixar movies like Inside Out, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 3, and various other animated classics will more than likely recognize Kind’s voice as soon as he comes on screen in the new Netflix movie. The same can be said about those who have long watched Curb Your Enthusiasm, Spin City, and even some of the best episodes of Scrubs. There’s a chance that everyone reading this has seen or heard Kind over the years. 

Julie Hagerty (Margie)

Julie Hagerty appears in The Out-Laws as Owen’s mom, Margie.

If you’re a fan of classic parody movies, then you’ll surely remember Hagerty from her portrayal of Elaine Dickinson in Airplane! and its 1982 sequel. Over the years, Hagerty has popped up in movies like What About Bob?, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Instant Family, and most recently, A Christmas Story Christmas. 

Lil Rel Howery (Tyree) 

Next up is Lil Rel Howery, who shows up as Tyree, one of Owen’s co-workers at the bank.

Over the course of the past decade, Howery has become one of the most recognizable faces in comedy thanks to scene-stealing performances in movies like Get Out, Uncle Drew, and even Bird Box. The actor and comedian has also had a successful TV career as well, with roles on series like The Carmichael Show, Insecure, Craig of the Creek, and in his own short-lived sitcom titled Rel. 

Poorna Jagannathan (Rehan)

Poorna Jagannathan takes on the role of Rehan, a dangerous criminal who takes Parker hostage after her parents’ latest bank robbery.

Fans of another Netflix original, Never Have I Ever, will surely recognize Jagannathan from her portrayal of Dr. Nalini Vishwakumar, but she has a ton of other credits to her name. Over the years, she has appeared on shows like Ramy, Gypsy, The Night Of, House of Cards, Royal Pains, and multiple others. As far as her film credits are concerned, the actress has been in movies like The Weather Man, The Circle, and Share. She’s also slated to appear in the upcoming adaptation of Turtles All the Way Down. 

Lauren Lapkus (Phoebe)

Lauren Lapkus plays Phoebe, another manager at Owen’s bank.

Lapkus has appeared in a number of Netflix productions throughout her career, including the 2020 romantic comedy, The Wrong Missy, and one of the streamer’s first original shows, Orange is the New Black. Over the years, she has also landed roles in movies like Happiest Season, Opening Night, and Jurassic World. 

Laci Mosley (Marisol)

Next up is Laci Mosley, who appears in The Out-Laws as Marisol, an employee at Owen’s bank.

If you are a fan of A Black Lady Sketch Show, the Paramount+ original series iCarly, or Lopez vs Lopez, then you should definitely recognize her. Over the years, Mosley has also made small appearances on everything from Insecure to Kenan and Better Call Saul to Sherman’s Showcase. 

Blake Anderson (RJ)

And then there is Blake Anderson, who appears as Owen’s cousin, RJ.

Over the years, Anderson has worked with his The Out-Laws co-star Adam DeVine a number of times, with their biggest collaboration being the long-running Workaholics, which they co-created more than a decade ago. Anderson was also a major part of the 2018 Netflix movie, Game Over, Man! alongside DeVine and their longtime collaborator, Anders Holm. 

Well, this about catches us up with The Out-Laws cast. The movie is currently streaming, but if you want to know more about other titles that will soon come to a streaming service or theater near you, check out our 2023 movie schedule.  

Stream The Out-Laws on Netflix.

The franchise that’s been living its life a quarter mile at a time is winding down. While the Fast & Furious world will surely continue on through spinoffs in the years to come, the main saga starring Dominic Toretto and his crew is in the final leg of this 20-plus-year endurance race with what could be a trilogy set within the popular franchise. The first of these final movies saw some of the series’ most popular characters going up against one of best Fast & Furious villains in some time, while also setting up what’s to come with the Fast X ending.

From Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto to Jason Momoa’s over the top Dante Reyes and everyone in between, the Fast X cast was filled from top to bottom with unforgettable performances that fans of the series will be talking about for years to come. And if you’re trying to figure out where you’ve seen those familiar (and not-so-familiar) faces before, look no further, for we are about to break it all down now…  

Vin Diesel (Dominic Toretto) 

Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto has appeared in all the Fast & Furious movies except for 2 Fast 2 Furious, and has become the heart, soul, and face of the franchise in the years since we first met the dominant street racer and fearless hero. And that remains the same in Fast X, which saw Dom face one of his toughest enemies yet, one who wouldn’t back down no matter what.

Though Diesel is most associated with the Fast & Furious movies, the badass action star has had an incredibly varied career, including dramas like Multi-Facial,Strays, and Saving Private Ryan, some of the best Marvel movies with his portrayal of Groot, the Riddick franchise, and the xXx action series, to name only a few.

Jason Momoa (Dante Reyes) 

Dante Reyes, the son of Hernan Reyes, Fast Five’s main antagonist, is honestly one of the best things to happen to the Fast & Furious franchise in a long time, and that’s thanks to Jason Momoa’s outlandish and incredibly violent portrayal of the villain.

Momoa, who first found success on shows like Baywatch: Hawaii and Stargate Atlantis, reached new heights in 2011 with his portrayal of Khal Drogo on Game Of Thrones. Since then, the actor has given incredible performances in the DCEU, Dune, and Sweet Girl, with even more on the way, like the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. 

 Michelle Rodriguez (Letty Ortiz)

Michelle Rodriguez has also been part of the Fast & Furious franchise since the beginning, although it wasn’t until Fast & Furious 6 that she started taking a more central role in these movies. And in Fast X, Letty had one of her biggest stories yet, especially when it came to her time with Charlize Theron’s Cipher.

Over the course of the past few decades, Rodriguez has become one of the most badass action stars on the planet, with unforgettable roles in everything from the Resident Evil franchise to Avatar to the 2023 fantasy adventure film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. 

Tyrese Gibson (Roman Pearce)

Introduced as Brian O’Connor’s childhood best friend in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Tyrese Gibson’s Roman Pearce has been a major part of the franchise since Fast Five, including a hilarious and intense performance in Fast X.

Outside of the Fast-verse, Gibson has landed roles in movies like Baby Boy, Four Brothers, The System, and Morbius. And if that wasn’t enough, Gibson also continues to have a successful music career, with an upcoming, Beautiful Pain, being released at some point in the near future, per Vibe. 

Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges (Tej Parker) 

Chris “Ludacris” Bridges’ Tej Parker also debuted in 2 Fast 2 Furious, hosting the street races Brian O’Connor drove in and later helping out him and Roman Pearce in their mission. Since then, he’s become a major part of the Toretto crew.

Though the rapper-turned-actor hasn’t released a full studio album since 2015’s Ludaversal, he’s remained quite busy with movies like John Henry, End of the Road, and several others. He even hosted his own reality series, Luda Can’t Cook, in 2022, which the three-time Grammy winner followed up with an appearance on Top Chef.

Nathalie Emmanuel (Ramsey)

Introduced in Furious 7, Nathalie Emmanuel’s Ramsey is undoubtedly the tech-guru of the crew, and she put her skills to work in Fast X.

Though she was already established by the time she joined the Game of Thrones cast during the show’s third season, Emmanuel will always be remembered for her turn as Missandei during the major of the HBO fantasy series’ run. Since then, Emmanuel has appeared in movies like Army of Thieves and The Invitation, as well as shows like Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Sung Kang (Han Lue)

A few years after he returned to the franchise in F9: The Fast Saga, Sung Kang is back once more as Han Lue in Fast X, in which he finds himself on quite a wild trip around the world. 

In addition to his multiple appearances in some of the best Fast & Furious movies, Kang has appeared in movies like We Can Be Heroes, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Snakehead the past few years. And fans of the Disney+ original series Obi-Wan Kenobi probably recognize him from his portrayal of The Fifth Brother during the 2022 miniseries.

Charlize Theron (Cipher)

If anyone deserves the honor of being the main Fast & Furious film series’ chief antagonist, it’s Charlize Theron’s Cipher. Although, in Fast X, the dangerous cyberterrorist who orchestrated much of the events in every movie since the franchise’s sixth installment finds herself in a much different situation.

One of the most well-known members of the Fast X cast, the actress has done a little bit of everything over the years, including win an Academy Award for her performance in Monster, dominated in one of the best action movies of all time with Mad Max: Fury Road, and give brief yet unforgettable portrayals in the 2009 post-apocalyptic film, The Road.

Jordana Brewster (Mia Toretto)

Like Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster goes back to Fast & Furious’ beginnings too, although Mia Toretto didn’t get nearly as much to do, action-wise, in those earlier appearances compared to Dom (her brother) and Brian (her love interest). And while she was only in Fast X for a few scenes, she’s still a key member of the Toretto crew.

Outside of the high-octane film franchise, Brewster has appeared on shows like Lethal Weapon, Magnum P.I., and The Rookie: Feds over the course of the past half-decade, as well as movies like Simulant and The Integrity of Joseph Chambers. 

John Cena (Jakob Toretto)

We had no idea that John Cena’s Jakob Toretto existed until F9, as it was revealed in the movie that Dom blamed his younger brother for the death of their father and forced him to leave town. By the time Fast X comes around, the brothers have since reconciled.

Cena, one of the most prolific wrestlers-turned-actors in recent memory, has been all over the place the past half-decade with great performances in everything from Bumblebee to The Suicide Squad, and several family-friendly comedies in between.   

Jason Statham (Deckard Shaw)

Deckard Shaw started out as a villain in the Fast & Furious franchise, having targeted Han and the rest of Dominic Toretto’s crew to exact revenge for what they did to his brother, Owen Shaw. But over the years, Shaw has become one of the franchise’s best anti-heroes and he even had a strange run-in about his past in the F9 mid-credits scene with Han Lue.

Throughout his career, Statham has led movies like Snatch, the Transporter franchise, The Italian Job, The Meg, and The Expendables, both of which have highly-anticipated sequels on the way. 

Helen Mirren (Magdalene ‘Queenie’ Ellmanson-Shaw)

Deckard wasn’t the only member of the Shaw family around in Fast X, as Helen Mirren was back as Magdalene “Queenie” Shaw. 

A living legend of the acting world, Mirren’s career can only be matched by one other name on this list (but we’ll get to them soon). From award-winning depictions of the late Queen Elizabeth II to wonderful plot-twisty thrillers like The Good Liar, and countless other movies, shows, and stage productions before, during, and since, there’s not much Mirren can’t do. 

Leo Abelo Perry (Brian ‘Little B’ Marcos)

Although Leo Abelo Perry is a newcomer to the Fast & Furious franchise, his character is not. Perry takes over as Brian Marcos, Dominic Toretto’s son with Elena Neves. 

Throughout his career, which only goes back a couple of years, Perry has popped up on shows like Black-ish and movies like Cheaper by the Dozen.

Scott Eastwood (Little Nobody)

In The Fate of the Furious, Kurt Russell’s Mr. Nobody was accompanied by a government agent who received the nickname Little Nobody. This agent was played by Scott Eastwood, and after sitting out the events of F9, he’s back for Fast X. 

The son of Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood, the actor has made a name for himself the past decade or so with appearances in Fury, The Longest Ride, Wrath of Man, and I Want You Back.

Daniela Melchior (Isabel Neves)

Two years after Daniel Melchior captured the hearts (and attention) of comic book fans around the world with her portrayal of Cleo Caro, a.k.a., Ratcatcher 2, in The Suicide Squad, the Portuguese actress landed a brief yet pivotal role in Fast X as Isabel Neves.

Fast X was the second of two major blockbusters to feature Melchior in May 2023, as she also briefly appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 earlier in the month.  

Brie Larson (Tess)

Brie Larson became another MCU actor to land a role in the Fast & Furious franchise with her portrayal of Tess, the daughter of the still missing (or dead) Mr. Nobody. 

Mostly recognized for her portrayal of Carol Danvers in the Captain Marvel movies, Larson has done a little bit of everything over the course of the past decade-and-a-half. This includes tremendous performances in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 21 Jump Street, Room (which earned her an Oscar), Kong: Skull Island, and countless others. 

Alan Ritchson (Aimes)

We had another DC actor who came along for the Fast X ride, as Alan Ritchson popped up in the movie as Aimes, the man who stepped in and took over for Mr. Nobody.   

A lot of you may be more familiar with Ritchson for playing the latest incarnation of Jack Reacher for the popular Amazon Prime Video series Reacher. Either way, Fast X gives Ritchson another action-related credit to add to his resume. 

Rita Moreno (Abuelita Toretto) 

 The Fast & Furious franchise is all about family, blood or otherwise. In the former category, another member of the Toretto clan was introduced: Dom, Mia and Jakob’s grandmother, played by Rita Moreno, an alumnus from both film versions of West Side Story.

The talented and beloved EGOT winner has had one of the most successful and prolific careers in show business with unforgettable roles in Singin’ in the Rain, Carnal Knowledge, Slums of Beverly Hills, and countless others. Hell, she even gave an incredible performance on HBO’s gritty prison drama, Oz.

Well, that catches us up with the Fast X cast and some of the places we’ve seen them before. And while we don’t yet know who we’ll be seeing return for the upcoming Fast & Furious 11, there are plenty of 2023 movies to hold us over while we wait for more information. 

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I think it’s fair to say The Suicide Squad pretty much has it all. Incredible action, massive gore, steamy romance, and genuine emotion. All of this is played out by an all-star cast, which features frequent James Gunn collaborators Michael Rooker and Nathan Fillion. The two had relatively small roles in the DC supervillain team-up film, but they certainly made the most of their screen time. And Gunn seems to have greatly appreciated their efforts, as evidenced by his sweet tribute to them.

Nathan Fillion and Michael Rooker have had roles in all of James Gunn’s films and, in the process, they’ve played some pretty memorable roles. In The Suicide Squad, Rooker and Fillion play Savant and T.D.K., Task Force X members who are thrown into the action early in the film. Gunn celebrated the performances in the movie by posting an appreciative message and a set photo to Twitter. You can see the post down below:

It’s a special thing when a filmmaker forms a bond with their actors while working on a movie, and it’s even greater when they’re able to collaborate on multiple projects. James Gunn certainly appears to understand the value of having frequent co-workers and friends, and it’s lovely to see him spotlight their talents like this.

Most would probably agree that while working with James Gunn, both Michael Rooker and Nathan Fillion have had the opportunity to play some interesting characters. Slither’s Grant Grant and Super’s Holy Avenger are just a few examples of the wild roles Gunn has tapped the fan-favorite actors for. But their most recognizable Gunn roles arguably came in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which introduced Michael Rooker’s Yondu Udonta. Fillion also played an ill-fated prison inmate, who gets on Rocket Raccoon and Groot’s bad side. Fillion also shot a cameo for the 2017 sequel, but it was cut from the final film.

Both actors were already well known, but one could argue that their involvement with James Gunn has only helped to elevate their stardom. Michael Rooker in particular has become a bit of a pop culture icon due to his performances as Yondu. I mean, I’m not the only one who still occasionally yells out “I’m Mary Poppins, y’all,” if the moment calls for it, right?

James Gunn’s next film is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which is somewhat bittersweet, as it could mark his first film without Michael Rooker. Yondu met a heroic demise in Vol. 2, yet Gunn could theoretically revive him through a flashback. And of course, Nathan Fillion can still return in another cameo.

But before we get too caught up in that speculation, let’s simply relish the fact that James Gunn brought the two actors back for his DC Comics spectacle. You can see Michael Rooker and Nathan Fillion in action by checking out The Suicide Squad in theaters or by streaming on HBO Max, which you can sign up for using this link.

Netflix has been delivering some amazing hits the last couple of years in terms of animated films. From the family movie The Mitchells vs. The Machines to the Academy-Award-nominated musical, Over the Moon, they’ve had some awesome additions to their already amazing line-up. And now, a new film joins that group, titled Vivo.

In Vivo, we follow a kinkajou, played by the amazing Lin-Manuel Miranda, who plays music to crowds in a lively square with his owner, Andres. However, when Andres expresses his interest in a long-lost love, Vivo takes it upon himself to try and reunite the star-crossed lovers once more. There are plenty of stars in the Vivo cast, from Zoe Saldana and Michael Rooker to musical geniuses, such as Gloria Estefan. Here is where you might have seen them (or heard them) before Vivo.

Lin-Manuel Miranda (Vivo)

Everyone loves Vivo, and the man behind him is the wonderful Lin-Manuel Miranda. If you haven’t heard his name yet in the media, I’m sure you’ve been living under a rock, because he’s been taking over Hollywood – at least in the musical sense. Prior to his breakout in film, Lin-Manuel Miranda rocked the streets of Broadway, creating two major hits – In the Heights and Hamilton: An American Musical.

Both of these hits actually ended up on the big screen in some form or another - Hamilton premiered on Disney+ as a live-stage recording, while In the Heights adapted for film and released in 2021, starring Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera, and more, and Lin-Manuel Miranda had a part in both musicals. Besides his big-Broadway escapades, Lin-Manuel Miranda has done plenty. He had a role in Mary Poppins Returns as Jack, and wrote music and lyrics for the Disney animated film, Moana. He’s even hosted Saturday Night Live prior to his role in this film.

It’s not a surprise that Miranda is returning once again to his musical roots, this time through voice-acting and song-writing, with how fantastic his musicals have been in the past. And I’m sure after watching Vivo, you can’t get those songs out of your head either.

Ynairaly Simo (Gabi)

While this cast is also full of stars in both the acting and musical world, we have a newcomer here as well. Gabi, the lovable partner to Vivo throughout the entirety of Vivo, is played by Ynairaly Simo, a young actress who’s just starting to make her mark.

While she did have a small role in a TV series titled Creative Galaxy back in 2014 where she played herself, this is her first major role in the Hollywood world. And hopefully, after playing Gabi in Vivo, we’ll be seeing a lot more of her soon.

Zoe Saldana (Rosa)

Every adorkable little kid needs an equally worried mother, and that’s where Rosa comes in, portrayed by Zoe Saldana. Saldana herself has been in some of the biggest movies of all time – even if she doesn’t quite look like herself in those films. Since 2014, Zoe Saldana has portrayed Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a role that started with Guardians of the Galaxy. Also in 2009, Saldana portrayed Neytiri in Avatar, one of the highest-grossing films of all time, a role which she will reprise in the upcoming sequels – whenever they do release.

Besides her roles in these films, she’s also had roles in other movies series as well, such as the Star Trek film series, where she portrayed Nyota Uhurua. Zoe Saldana also dabbled with pirate adventures for a bit, with a role in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

The year after that, she would go on to have a role in the Steven Spielberg film, The Terminal. She’s even been in the voice world prior to Vivo, with a role in the 2014 animated film, The Book of Life, as Maria Posada.

Truly, Zoe Saldana has been all over, and I for one can’t wait to see what she does next. Now, if only Avatar 2 could release, dang it.

Juan de Marcos Gonzalez (Andres)

As the owner of Vivo in Vivo, Andres is a kind and caring older man who loves music, and wants to reunite with his past partner/love of his life, Marta. Playing Andres is Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, who is likely better known as a Cuban musician than he is an actor.

Vivo is his first acting credit ever, but Gonzalez has been in the music industry for decades. He’s been a Cuban bandleader and musician, who was part of the Buena Vista Social Club, an ensemble of Cuban musicians that was established in 1996. With someone as musically talented as him, it’s not a surprise that he'd land a role in Vivo. And honestly, I can’t think of anyone better.

Michael Rooker (Lutadoor)

Moving back to actors on this list, we take a look at Lutadoor, an evil python in Vivo that lives to make the Vivo's life difficult. Michael Rooker portrays Lutadoor in Vivo. The actor, with a career that spans back to the '80s, has been around Hollywood for some time. He started off his acting career with several roles in movies, such as the crime film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, the sports film, Eight Men Out, the political thriller, JFK, the crime thriller film, The Bone Collector, and several others.

From 2010-2013, Michael Rooker portrayed Merle Dixon in AMC’s The Walking Dead, before moving over to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he portrayed Yondu in the Guardian’s of the Galaxy franchise. Most recently, he’s had a role in the 2020 monster/romance film, Love and Monsters, and will have a role in The Suicide Squad as Brian Durlin/Savant.

Brian Tyree Henry (Dancarino)

As the first half of the star-crossed spoonbills in Vivo, Brian Tyree Henry portrays Dancarino. Henry hasn’t been in the industry for as long as some of his other co-stars, with his earliest film/tv credit being a guest spot on Law and Order in 2009, but boy has he had a career since then. Since 2016, Brian Tyree Henry has had a main role on the FX comedy series, Atlanta, alongside creator Donald Glover, a role he will reprise in the upcoming third season. He also had a guest spot on the This Is Us episode, “Memphis” in Season 1 of the show, and has been on a couple of episodes of Drunk History.

In terms of film, Henry has done several films in plenty of different genres. He portrayed Jamal Manning in the heist thriller, Widows, Daniel Carty in the Academy-Award-nominated film, If Beale Street Could Talk, Jefferson Davis in the Academy-Award-winner film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Detective Mike Norris in Child’s Play, Carl in Joker, Bernie Hayes in Godzilla vs Kong, and so many others.

He’s also going to be starring as Phastos in the upcoming Marvel film, Eternals.

Jeez, talk about someone who has made his mark on Hollywood. I’m not surprised he scored a role in Vivo, and I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.

Nicole Byer (Valentina)

Valentina is the other-half of the star-crossed spoonbills on Vivo, and Nicole Byer is the lucky woman to play her. Byer, who got her start through her amazing comedy, has been the host of Nailed It!, a Netflix reality bake-off series where average bakers try to recreate amazing baking creations, a show that was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.

Other than her amazing hosting talents and hysterical jokes, Byer has also had a couple of roles in the film/TV world. She starred in the commentary series, Girl Code, and then went on to be in Loosely Exactly Nicole, an MTV/Facebook Watch comedy series based on her life. Other than that, she’s made several guest appearances on television, including parts on 30 Rock, the Amazon original series, Transparent, the iconic animated series, The Simpsons, and more.

Recently, Byer has taken up co-hosting Wipeout, alongside John Cena, so keep an eye out for her the next time you’re catching up on your competition shows.

Gloria Estefan (Marta Sandoval)

Oh, Marta. We love Marta. As the wonderful other-half to Andres in Vivo, Marta is played by the wonderful Gloria Estefan, whom is another case of musician-over-actor. Gloria Estefan is a famous Cuban-American singer and songwriter, with a career that spans back to the 1970s, with several hits that have become popular all over the world.

However, besides her amazing music, Estefan has dipped her toes into the acting world several times before. She portrayed the mother of Santana Lopez in Glee, and also appeared in a guest role on the Netflix original series, One Day at a Time. Besides guest appearances, she’s also had plenty of cameos as well, including roles on Jane the Virgin, Fraser, Blue’s Clues, and so many others. If you haven’t given her music a listen to, check her out now. You won’t regret it.

Katie Lowes, Olivia Trujillo, And Lidya Jewett (Scout Troopers)

While their roles in the film isn’t as big as the others here, the Scout Troopers are still adorable, played by Katie Lowes, Olivia Trujillo, and Lidya Jewett. Katie Lowes is best known for her role on ABC political drama, Scandal, and had voice roles in Wreck-It Ralph, and its sequel, along with Zootopia and Big Hero 6.

Olivia Trujillo has been on the TV series For All Mankind, as well as some guest appearances on other shows such as Drunk History, #Realityhigh, and others.

Lidya Jewett had a major role on the series Good Girls as Sara Hill, alongside other guest appearances on shows such as Bunk’d, Grey’s Anatomy, See Dad Run, and more. She also portrayed Young Katherine Coleman in the film Hidden Figures in 2016.

With all these big-time stars in Vivo, it’s a welcome addition to the 2021 Netflix movies. Who were you excited to see in this amazing animated film?

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As soon as writer and director James Gunn was handed the opportunity to helm a new film about bad guys forced into doing some good, it was only a matter of time before we would be asking who Michael Rooker’s The Suicide Squad character was going to be. The 66-year-old Guardians of the Galaxy star has been a frequent collaborator of Gunn’s since appearing in his 2006 horror comedy Slither and now Gunn is making Rooker a star of the DCEU movies as Savant - a character even the most experienced DC Comics readers may barely recognize at all. 

Well, to prepare the unfamiliar in time for when The Suicide Squad hits theaters and HBO Max this August, the following is breakdown of the most essential facts regarding one of Task Force X’s newest recruits, starting with the source of his “power.”

Savant Is A Rich, Spoiled Computer Genius

Created by DC Comics writer Gail Simone and artist Ed Benes, Savant is the alter ego of Brian Durlin, whose first comic book appearance was in the 56th issue of Birds of Prey in August 2003. The debut would reveal that he is the heir to an enormous fortune and his privilege has left him selfish and overindulgent.

The character’s supervillain alias is meant to pay reference to his genius-level intellect, particularly when it comes to business management, speaking multiple languages, and, especially, when working with computers. Savant is also a skilled combatant, with a specialty in fighting with sticks, which one might assume would have been his claim to fame if his initial life aspirations had gone as planned.

Savant Originally Wanted To Be A Hero Before Batman Discouraged Him

Being a super rich dude with genius-level intelligence, prominent skills in business, and martial arts mastery would have made Brian Durlin a grade A candidate to be the next Batman. In fact, that was essentially his goal when he moved himself to Gotham City in hopes to be the next great vigilante. Ironically, the city’s most influential hero would ultimately cause him to turn to the dark side.

When Savant arrived in Gotham to begin his career as a hero, he would soon be turned away from the life of a vigilante by Batman. The Dark Knight cited Brian Durlin’s lack of interest in actually offering his protection to anyone as the reason for his discouragement. Savant took this to heart and decided that, if he could not use his abilities for good in Gotham City, he might be able to find success on the other side of justice.

Savant Set His Sights On The Business Of Blackmail

With his heroic aspirations put behind him, Savant set out to be the best supervillain he could with the skill set he has acquired. He would end up taking advantage of his business skills and his expertise behind a computer keyboard to create his own blackmailing operation. Savant’s blackmail business was quickly booming, taking on various shady clients and earning some very impressive return profits (not that the billionaire ever really needed any more money, that is).

Aiding him in this operation was his trusted Russian partner Aleksandr Creote - a former agent of the KGB who would hide a secret romantic affection he had for his business associate while working together. His devoted following of Savant would continue even after they were forced to abandon the blackmailing business and the supervillain lifestyle for a second chance at being a hero. Of course, it was through an unlikely means that he would receive this opportunity.

A Heinous Act Led To Savant’s Recruitment Into The Birds Of Prey

Despite how better off he seemed when pursuing the life of a supervillain, Savant was still pretty pissed at Batman for turning him away from the more heroic lifestyle. Thus, he attempted to get closer to the Dark Knight by kidnapping and torturing Birds of Prey member Black Canary in hopes to convince leader Oracle (a later, post-Batgirl alias of Barbara Gordon) to reveal his secret identity.

His plan was thwarted when Barbara Gordon sent Huntress to successfully defeat Savant and rescue Black Canary. However, after realizing he was too dangerous of a threat to have against them and discovering that he had valuable information on hundreds of other criminals in Gotham City, Gordon decided to try rehabilitating Savant by recruiting him and Aleksandr Creote onto the Birds to Prey. Gordon would often regret this decision, though, partially of his radical methods and his obvious crush on her, which is likely rooted in his envy over her incomparable computer skills.

Despite His Genius, Savant Suffers From A Non-Linear Memory

Outside of his selfishness and reckless behavior, Brian Durlin suffers from one other debilitating characteristic that makes him a less likely hero. While his remarkable intelligence is without doubt, he was, unfortunately, born with a chemical imbalance that causes his non-linear memory, giving him a worldview similar to the narrative structure of some of the Quentin Tarantino movies. As a result, he tends forget a lot of things which, actually, would work out in his advantage in one instance.

Once, Savant was kidnapped a group of criminals called the Society (formerly the Secret Society of Super-Villains) as part of a plan by the Calculator to get ahold of Oracle. However, the plan failed since Savant’s non-linear perception allowed him to resist the interrogation, believing the tutelage had lasted mere hours while, in reality, he had been held captive for days. He was later rescued by the Birds of Prey, with whom he soon would cut ties after angrily attempting to murder Society member, Spider.

Michael Rooker has played a few hot-headed characters in his day, from Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead to Yondu Udonta in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. It seems like choosing him to play the ill-tempered Savant among all of The Suicide Squad’s new members was a no-brainer for James Gunn. That being said, seeing what he will bring to this character and what the character will bring to what is already one of the most anticipated 2021 movies is exciting.

With over 100 acting credits on his resume, scattered across film and television throughout 30-plus years in the business, Michael Rooker is one hard-working character actor who often impresses with his versatile comedic and dramatic talents. Making a name for himself with his chilling titular performance in 1986's Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Rooker has demonstrated his skills in a variety of different projects, and he only continues to excel with a slew of new films and shows in the near future.

Whether it's a reunion between the actor and his long-time collaborator, James Gunn, in The Suicide Squad, a reprisal of one of his most famous characters in Marvel's What If? ..., or his introduction to a long-standing blockbuster franchise with F9, Michael Rooker is a heavily in-demand performer who makes the most of every moment he's on-screen.

Here are the upcoming Michael Rooker movies and shows that you can look forward to.

F9 - June 25th, 2021 (Completed)

Just as the Fast & Furious movies continue to get bigger and more elaborate with each successive installment, so too do the ensembles of these action-packed blockbusters become ever more expansive with each consecutive sequel. Alongside Vin Diesel, this high octane, pedal-to-the-metal adventure is slated to feature the returns of Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Helen Mirren, Sung Kang, and Charlize Theron. Additionally, John Cena and Michael Rooker will be joining the fun in supporting roles, though not a whole lot is known about their respective parts. That's particularly the case for Rooker's character, a mysterious man known solely as "Buddy," but we don't have long to wait to find out what's in store here.

Following several dashed dates and an extended series of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this long-awaited sequel will make its way into theaters on June 25th, 2021. It hasn't been an easy road for F9, but this is a film that demands to be shown on the big screen. Therefore, Universal pushed this hotly-anticipated sequel into the scorching days of summer, and we can't wait to see what's in store for the family this time around.

The Suicide Squad - August 6th, 2021 (Completed)

Based on the final heart-tugging moments of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it's pretty unlikely that Michael Rooker will reprise his role as Yondu in Vol. 3. But the actor is set to reunite with James Gunn in his newest superhero vehicle, The Suicide Squad, making him one of the few actors working in both the Marvel and DC universes.

Neither a sequel nor a reboot to the money-making 2016 movie, The Suicide Squad will nevertheless reconnect us with Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman's Rick Flag, Viola Davis' Amanda Walker, and Jai Courtney's Captain Boomerang while also introducing a splashy cavalcade of highly impudent wise-guys — most of whom we're not supposed to get too acquainted with, as the poppy marketing notes. The R-rated DC Comics adaptation will be goofier and more irreverent than the last Suicide Squad. Hopefully, we'll get a couple of scene-stealing moments from Michael Rooker's Savant.

The high-energy first trailer suggests that Michael Rooker's comic character will play a substantive role, which makes sense considering that the actor has a long-standing working relationship with James Gunn. Of course, the decision to include a decent bit of Rooker footage in this trailer could be a way of deceiving viewers into thinking that the actor will play a sizable part in the proceedings, only to kill the character before the midway mark. We won't know how Rooker's character fares until we see the movie for ourselves, but we don't have to wait too long. The Suicide Squad will screen in theaters and premiere on HBO Max starting August 6th, 2021. It should be a bloody good time.

What If? … - TBA 2021 (Post-Production)

As we noted earlier, Yondu got a loving and emotional send-off at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Therefore, it's looking unlikely that we'll see him in the third movie (unless he's included in a flashback). But we haven't seen the last of Yondu ... or, at least, we haven't heard the last of the blue paternal figure. That's because Michael Rooker will reprise his beloved Marvel character in Disney+'s What If? ..., an animated anthology series that explores what would happen if things went down differently in the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe. Slated to stream later this year, with rumors suggesting that it'll premiere this summer, What If? ... allows Marvel fans to hear Rooker in the role of Yondu once more, though it shouldn't be more than a guest appearance.

In addition to Michael Rooker lending his pipes to the much-anticipated show, What If? ... will also feature the voice talents of Mark Ruffalo, Hayley Atwell, Natalie Portman, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael B. Jordan, Karen Gillan, Josh Brolin, Jeff Goldblum, Frank Grillo, Dominic Cooper, Sean Gunn, Sebastian Stan, and the late Chadwick Boseman, to name only a few famous names attached. Additionally, there's a possibility that Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Brie Larson, and Benedict Cumberbatch will be heard in their respective Marvel parts, though their voice roles haven't been confirmed at this time.

We'll learn more about this animated series in the months ahead, but this performance could prove to be bittersweet if it's truly the last time we hear Michel Rooker as Yondu. Admittedly, the actor cheekily expressed openness in reprising this role, so maybe he'll come back someday. For now, though, this is Rooker's last confirmed MCU appearance.

The President Is Missing - TBA (Pre-Production)

You'd be forgiven if you didn't predict that James Patterson and Bill Clinton would be creative collaborators. Generally speaking, the best-selling author and the U.S. President aren't often paired together in casual conversation. But in 2018, the world-famous writer and former Head of State joined forces to pen The President Is Missing, a pulpy, page-turning political thriller that combined Patterson's well-oiled storytelling mechanics with Clinton's White House experience to create a splashy literary bestseller for the veteran author and first-time novelist. It was only a matter of time before this curious collaboration (written alongside reported ghostwriter David Ellis) would reach either the big or small screen. Now, the oddball piece of pop culture will (potentially) make its way to television screens nationwide with Showtime's proposed mini-series, which is slated to star David Oyelowo, Ann Dowd, Michael Rooker, and Janet McTeer.

While it's far from a literary masterpiece, The President is Missing is a fast-paced novel that reads like the template for an exciting movie or show — basically by design. It's not the least bit surprising, therefore, that Showtime expressed interest in adapting this material. Development reportedly stalled last year, however, and it might not come to fruition. By Ann Dowd's admission, production halted due to the pandemic, and the project is stuck in limbo. Now, the status looks pretty grim. It's possible that the property might get picked up elsewhere, albeit with heavy retooling. Especially with all the big names attached, both on the page and on the screen, it should pique some interest from a few hot-shot producers. For now, though, its status remains uncertain. If The President is Missing comes together, Michael Rooker is attached to play Greg Parkes, the Special Agent in Charge of the Vice Presidential Protection Detail who must protect the Vice President at all costs from imminent danger, as Geek Tyrant reported.

Recent Michael Rooker Projects

Most recently, Michael Rooker played a key character in Blumhouse's Fantasy Island, as well as a memorable mentor figure in Love & Monsters. Particularly when it comes to the latter, these genre efforts allowed the well-known actor to shine in splashy, scene-stealing character roles that play into his kooky brand of off-kilter goofiness. Even in a lackluster movie like Fantasy Island, Rooker can jump in and make a good impression — particularly as an unhinged private investigator who explains the alluring power of the mystical, titular island to our hapless young leads. (If only this movie were better!)

Additionally, at one point, Michael Rooker was attached to Amazon Prime's western/sci-fi series, The Dark Tower, but the project ultimately didn't make it past the pilot stage. It's a shame because Rooker was reportedly set to play Eldred Jonas, the leader of the Big Coffin Hunters, which would've been a good role for his brand of menace. Alas, the Stephen King adaptation didn't come to pass, but the dependable actor is keeping himself busy with several upcoming projects, as we've noted throughout this article.

While it's unfortunate that Michael Rooker isn't given more opportunities to shine as a lead performer, it's always fun to see the oddball actor ham it up in these supporting parts. Certainly, you can count on Rooker to make a big splash on the big screen — no matter how big or small his role might be.

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The MCU is a dangerous place, and while its heroes are capable of some incredible things, death comes for us all. During a recent Marvel rewatch, I tasked myself with finding the most notable death this franchise has delivered to date, and while my assumption going in was that nothing was going to top Tony Stark's sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, there is another far greater: the demise of Michael Rooker's Yondu.

If we're talking pound-for-pound greatness, Yondu Udonta doesn't hold a candle to Tony Stark or many other Marvel heroes in several categories. With that said, I'm absolutely willing to say that his death in James Gunn's Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 is the best in the MCU so far, and possibly a Top 3 in the list of overall deaths in superhero movies. For those who re-watch the film, this isn't hard to see why, but for those pressed for time, I've laid it out about as plainly as I can below.

Yondu's Arc Is Short, But Impactful

The first Guardians of the Galaxy movie gave us a taste of Yondu and what he was about, but it's fair to say his real story doesn't start until the second movie. Yondu, clearly bothered by his alienation from the greater Ravager community, lost his crew when his refusal to turn over Peter Quill to the Sovereign made him look soft. Kraglin unwittingly started a mutiny, and Taserface eliminated Yondu's remaining support, with the leader defeated and behind bars on the ship.

It's here Yondu has reached his lowest point. His weakness for Peter Quill as a son cost him everything he'd built, but because of that, he and Rocket are only strengthened in their resolve to escape with Groot and ultimately help rescue Peter from Ego. After all, Yondu had a real reason for never delivering Star-Lord in the first place, as he feared that Peter would end up like all the other dead offspring of the Celestial.

There wasn't much Yondu could do to fight Ego, but at the end, that wasn't really his goal. Once he arrived, his main goal was to protect Peter, for reasons maybe even Star-Lord didn't understand until it was too late. Whether it was intended in the initial capture or not, Yondu viewed Peter like a son, and as his "daddy," he owed it to protect him to the best of his abilities. Again, most of this is explained in the sequel, but it's told so well that it's hard not to cry as Yondu's blue body went a bit bluer as he froze in the cold vacuum of space.

Michael Rooker Acted His Ass Off In Guardians Of The Galaxy 2

It really needs to be said that out of all the performances in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Michael Rooker delivered the best. A lot of the movie hinged on selling his relationship with Quill and understanding the importance of the Ravagers to his character. That wasn't an easy task given that Yondu was more of a minor character in the first film, but one wouldn't know it thanks to Rooker's efforts.

Obviously the death scene and the scene immediately preceding it was amazing, but what really brought the performance to another level was when Yondu approached Stakar Ogord in the bar. The combination of fear, shame and humility in his face was clear, and for once, we see Yondu cowed. Of course, when Stakar drove in the figurative knife and walked away, we saw the explosive Yondu emerge rather than continue to be hurt by someone whom he considered a friend.

This scene is a bit underrated in the context of Guardians of the Galaxy 2's full story, but it's so important in many ways. In addition to Yondu relating to Rocket after he recognized he also buried his emotions in rage and alleged apathy, we learned that a lot of Yondu's personality is projection. It's a necessary persona that's helped him reach a certain level of success in the galaxy, but at a cost. He's the leader of a disgraced Ravager faction and now on the outs of the one group where he found acceptance.

Then, of course, there are Michael Rooker's final minutes in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, in which he literally went from making us laugh with the Mary Poppins line to crying with the noble sacrifice. Obviously I give credit to everyone involved who pieced those moments together because it just turned me into a blubbering mess when he finally got the Ravager funeral. Oh yeah, that scene is also tied to the Stakar scene, and if it weren't for Rooker acting his ass off, the whole movie might have fallen apart.

Yondu Will Never Be Resurrected

The MCU has had more death than one would expect, though you may not immediately know it given how many dead characters have returned in one way or another. This won't be the case for Yondu for a couple of reasons, the biggest being that James Gunn has outright confirmed he wouldn't. The director has stated in the past he believed that bringing back Yondu would ruin the sacrifice for Quill and diminish the character's story. Unless the scene was a flashback, Yondu won't return to the MCU.

I love James Gunn's conviction, and naturally I completely agree with his thinking. There's nothing in my mind that the MCU could do with Yondu that would be as impactful or as noble as his sacrifice for Peter in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and there's a good chance a return would diminish the character's legacy. As much as it sucks not to see Michael Rooker reprise the role, he got about the best exit a secondary character in this universe could hope for.

And let's be honest, bringing back Yondu to the MCU would not be as exciting for fans of Marvel movies as bringing back someone like Iron Man or Black Widow. The MCU has already found a way to honor the character's legacy with Kraglin donning the mohawk, and I'm sure the Guardians will continue to honor Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Keeping Yondu dead keeps this the best death in the MCU, bar none, and given the stuff we've seen so far, that's saying something.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is expected to arrive in 2023, and if James Gunn is true to his word, Yondu will not be brought back to life. For more on the movie, be sure to check out a recent photo of some truly horrifying Gamora masks that were recently shared.

Out of all the new TV shows coming soon to Disney+, the one that I think I am most looking forward to is What If…?, inspired by the comic book of the same name. It is described as a 10-episode animated anthology series that reimagines key events canon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe had things gone a little different. If that is not enough to surprise you, outside of first time Marvel actor Jeffrey Wright hosting the show Rod Serling-style as The Watcher, all of the MCU characters said to appear will be played by their original actors. I am certain that sparks a great deal of questions in your mind and I will be sure provide all the answers that I can in the following breakdown of every actor confirmed to lend their voice to the highly anticipated series, starting with the man who brought most of these characters together.

Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury)

It would be wrong to not include Samuel L. Jackson on a trippy, Marvel-inspired anthology as the voice of Nick Fury, although how the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director (also leading his own upcoming live action Disney+ series, Secret Invasion) will be depicted on What If…? has yet to be revealed.

Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter)

We might be able to infer from the first trailer for What If…? that Nick Fury will discover a frozen Peggy Carter (played once again by Hayley Atwell), who will be reimagined on the series as the Army’s choice for the Super Soldier Program instead of Steve Rogers, which, I suppose, would make her Captain Britain.

Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark)

Real-life Brit Dominic Cooper returns to play Iron Man’s father and S.H.I.E.L.D. co-founder Howard Stark (circa 1942) for the first time since the short-lived Agent Carter series, but to see Hayley Atwell’s character become a Super Soldier on What If…? this time.

Stanley Tucci (Dr. Abraham Erskine)

I wonder if the developer of the original Super Soldier Serum, German-born ally to the U.S. Army Dr. Abraham Erskine (voiced by Oscar-nominee Stanley Tucci), will suffer the same tragic fate on What If…? as he did in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger.

Toby Jones (Arnim Zola)

That being said, I am also curious if British Golden Globe-nominee Toby Jones’ reprisal of Arnim Zola, a Swiss HYDRA scientist and right hand man of Hugo Weaving’s Red Skull, will appear in his 1940s era human form, as a computer in the present day, or something completely different on What If…?

Neal McDonough (Dum Dum Dugan)

I mean, for all we know, Arrowverse star Neal McDonough’s return to the role of Sergeant Timothy Alloysius Cadwaller "Dum Dum" Dugan (the subsequent leader of the Howling Commandos after Steve Rogers’ supposed demise) on What If…? could see him become the Winter Soldier instead of Bucky Barnes.

Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier)

However, Bucky Barnes will appear as The Winter Soldier (voiced by Sebastian Stan, of course) on What If…?, and, based on the trailer, he seems to have taken on the role of a savior of the apocalypse against the long-awaited appearance of Marvel Zombies.

Frank Grillo (Crossbones)

Speaking of Marvel Zombies, I think there are few MCU characters better equipped (literally) to take on an army of the undead than Frank Grillo’s corrupt former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Brock Rumlow, whose brief reign as the armored terrorist Crossbones in Captain America: Civil War will, supposedly, be given an extension in some capacity on What If…?

Michael Douglas (Dr. Hank Pym/Ant-Man)

Seeing 76-year-old Oscar-winner Michael Douglas credited as the voice of both Hank Pym and Ant-Man has me curious if we are destined to see more of the brilliant scientist in his crimefighting days on the series and, considering much of the original Ultron’s creator’s arc in the MCU has already been a big What If…? story in itself.

Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man)

Of course, Paul Rudd is coming back to voice the MCU’s present-day Ant-Man, Scott Lang, as well, but besides also being credited as the incredibly shrinking Avenger in the cast list, I cannot find any preceding issues of the What If…? comic to give me any insight as to where his story on the series may lead him.

David Dastmalchian (Kurt)

There may, however, be a clue to Scott Lang’s role on What If…? is the inclusion of serial comic book adaptation star David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight, The Flash, Gotham, the upcoming The Suicide Squad) returning as fellow reformed criminal Kurt from the Ant-Man movies, but there is not much else to infer from that.

Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger)

Furthermore, I have no idea where to even begin when considering the possibilities of how What If…? will reexamine the already complex origins of Erik Killmonger when Michael B. Jordan returns to voice the Black Panther villain.

Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye)

Clint Barton’s frequent, but subtle, reminiscing with Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow in the Avengers movies has always made me curious to see him in his pre-Hawkeye days as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and there is a chance that Jeremy Renner’s vocal reprisal on What If…? could touch upon that.

Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk)

With how often we can easily assume Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) has imagined what his life would be if had he never become the Hulk, it is not too far-fetched to infer that What If…? may take advantage of that opportunity, considering Avengers: Endgame already lived out the “Professor Hulk” scenario.

Chris Hemsworth (Thor)

On the other hand, there is much that could be expanded on with Hulk’s time on Sakaar before Chris Hemsworth showed up in Thor: Ragnarok, which could be a major source of inspiration for either he or Bruce Banner’s story reinventions on What If…? considering the inclusion of the next couple of characters.

Jeff Goldblum (The Grandmaster)

Anyone who has ached to see more from Jeff Goldblum’s dazzling performance in Thor: Ragnarok is in luck as The Grandmaster does have a role in What If…?

Taika Waititi (Korg)

Another scene-stealer from Thor: Ragnarok (and Avengers: Endgame, too) whom we can be thankful to know is in What If…? is Korg, once again voiced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi, who will also be directing and starring in the upcoming fourth installment, Thor: Love and Thunder.

Tom Hiddleston (Loki)

I do have another theory, however, that Thor may not even be the star of his What If…? episode and instead instead take the backseat in a story that sees Loki (voiced by Tom Hiddleston) claiming Mjolnir first, which would take inspiration from a real issue of the original comic book series from 1984.

Natalie Portman (Jane Foster)

If that turns out to be case, maybe What If…? will see leading astrophysicist Jane Foster fall in love with Loki instead of Thor, considering we already know that Natalie Portman will be making a live action return to the role in Thor: Love and Thunder as Chris Hemsworth’s successor to the “mighty” God of Thunder title.

Josh Brolin (Thanos)

It was “inevitable” that this series would have a place for Josh Brolin to come back as Thanos, who actually joined the Avengers in a 2015 issue of What If…?, although I would be interested to see an episode imagining the post-Decimation world had it not been reversed in Avengers: Endgame.

Karen Gillan (Nebula)

There is plenty to be inspired by in Thanos’ rocky relationship with his daughter, Nebula, for her story on What If…?, such as imagining Karen Gillan’s partially robotic warrior as the purple Titan’s favorite child over Gamora instead.

Djimon Hounsou (Korath)

After witnessing two awfully different portrayals of Korath the Pursuer as a merciless henchman to Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy and a more soft-spoken Starforce operative in Captain Marvel, I am very intrigued to see what Djimon Hounsou will bring the role on What If…?

Michael Rooker (Yondu Udonta)

Based on his brief appearance in the What If…? trailer, former Walking Dead star Michael Rooker does not seem to be changing much about his country-fried depiction of Ravager leader Yondu Udonta from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies on the series, which is just what I was hoping for.

Sean Gunn (Kraglin)

Other than starring alongside Michael Rooker in his brother’s new take on The Suicide Squad, 2021 will see Sean Gunn lending his voice to What If…? as his second most famous MCU character (after performing the motion capture for Rocket Raccoon), Kraglin.

Chris Sullivan (Taserface)

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Kraglin would come to regret allowing Yondu’s Ravager faction to be usurped by Taserface, the hilariously nicknamed scene-stealer whom Emmy-nominated This Is Us star Chris Sullivan will reprise on What If…?

Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa)

Before his devastating death in 2020, Chadwick Boseman was able to portray his Black Panther character one last time for one of the most fascinating concepts to be seen in What If…?: T’Challa as Star-Lord.

What do you think? Has it been your dream for Black Panther to become a Guardian of the Galaxy for a while now, or that does barely scratch the surface of what you want to see on this highly imaginative upcoming series? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on What If…?, as well as even more inside looks at what to expect from your favorite upcoming comic book movies and TV shows, here on CinemaBlend.

Michael Rooker debuted on The Walking Dead early in Season 1 and turned up alive after a long absence in Season 3, playing the role of Merle Dixon – Daryl Dixon’s older brother. The veteran actor has remained busy since his time on The Walking Dead ended. Rooker has had roles in movies and television. So, what about returning to TWD as Merle? Rooker has shared some blunt thoughts on the possibility.

It has been seven years since Michael Rooker’s run as Merle Dixon came to a close on The Walking Dead. His last episode was 2013’s “This Sorrowful Life,” and the way Merle’s story concluded seemed to leave the door closed on the possibility of him returning later. The Walking Dead has a lot of spinoffs and prequels, though, which makes Rooker reprising Merle a viable consideration. Would he? Rooker told ComicBook.com:

A brief return is out of the question for Michael Rooker. What about a longer one, like Rick’s movie? The Walking Dead star seems pretty set on not returning, although he shot it down in terms of being a one-off. Who could blame him for that response? A short-lived exploration would not be a lot for Rooker to dig into compared to something longer and more complex.

Michael Rooker went on to explain that a lot of his resistance to returning as Merle has to do with the sendoff he got, which is interesting considering that Rooker has previously lamented AMC’s tight grip on their wallet, suggesting that money was a motive in killing him off The Walking Dead in Season 3. Delving deeper into his reasoning, Rooker said:

Michael Rooker is ready to move on, particularly as Merle got the ending that he needed before dying on the show. Merle tried to grow as a person. Interestingly, Rooker brought up his Guardians of the Galaxy character when breaking down his thoughts on the matter. Rooker was pretty open about his willingness to somehow reprise his role as Yondu, whose fate seemed as definitive as Merle’s.

Yondu also took a shot at redemption. At least Michael Rooker has shared his favorite scenes from his time as Merle Dixon, so that is something. Just do not hold your breath for Rooker to reprise his role in a one-off capacity. Meanwhile, Merle’s brother Daryl will be getting his own spinoff following the announcement that The Walking Dead will be ending in 2022.

For fans looking for more of Michael Rooker, he joined the cast of Amazon’s much-anticipated Dark Tower series. It is not more Merle, and yet it is something to look forward to seeing. You can watch The Walking Dead when it returns in 2021. Until then, you can watch this fall’s premieres.

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a massive universe that is constantly growing. And while fans have had to wait longer than anticipate for Phase Four, there are some highly anticipated projects coming down the line. This is especially true for James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, with some fans hoping that Michael Rooker's Yondu ends up making an appearance. And now Rooker has addressed this possibility himself.

Yondu was an antagonist in the original Guardians of the Galaxy movie, who got an emotional redemption arc in the sequel. But despite sacrificing himself to save Star-Lord, some moviegoers still want to see the blue guy in the upcoming threequel. Michael Rooker recently addressed this possibility, saying:

Well, this is hopeful. Because while Yondu's fate seemed pretty cut and dry at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Michael Rooker would still be happy to play his signature Marvel character again. As the Walking Dead alum knows, the comic book genre is full of macguffins that could bring characters back.

Michael Rooker's comments to ComicBook are sure to excite the many Guardians of the Galaxy fans who would love to see Yondu on the big screen one more time. He admits to loving his MCU character, which is hopeful ahead of Vol. 3's production. Of course, there's no telling if this is on James Gunn's radar.

It obviously seems unlikely that Yondu will rise from the dead, especially since his death is one of the most heartbreaking of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. But if Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 included flashback sequences, there could be a logical way to bring Michael Rooker's character to the big screen. We'll just have to wait and see what James Gunn has in store once his shift pivots from The Suicide Squad back to the Guardians.

Michael Rooker's tenure in the MCU thus far in currently available on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

While Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame killed off a ton of characters, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was ahead of the game in this regard. After reconciling with Star-Lord, Yondu once again looks out for his adopted son and sacrifices himself to save the Guardian leader. You can re-watch the tear jerker sequence below.

I'm not crying, you're crying. In addition to the gut wrenching death scene, Yondu was also given a gorgeous space funeral in the final moments of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Ravagers gave him the colors that were previously stripped away, and the final shot featured Rocket Raccoon looking at the view.

There's currently no telling what James Gunn has in store for audiences with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The highly anticipated threequel has been pushed back years, largely due to the filmmaker's temporary firing by Disney. Fans are eager to return to the fan favorite property, and pick up the narrative after the wild events of Infinity War and Endgame. The group will also appear in Thor: Love and Thunder, which should help satiate the fandom's ongoing wait.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Guardians of the Galaxy as more details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

When you think of actor/ adventure seeker Michael Rooker, you may think of toughness and hilarity. As seen in films such as Tombstone, Days of Thunder, and more recently, James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy duology, you can crack a smile or wither in your seat when that man’s on screen. But would you believe a backpack was all it took to make the man fall on the set of his latest film, Love and Monsters? Probably not, right? I mean you’d have to have a pretty heavy pack, and some extenuating circumstances to fall back on to topple The Rooker. Well, that’s exactly what happened on set, and he subsequent fall is a testament to the intensity Michael Rooker brings to life in general.

I was able to speak with both Rooker and Dylan O’Brien on behalf CinemaBlend in the run up to this weekend’s limited theatrical/VOD debut of Paramount’s Love and Monsters. And in speaking with O’Brien about his memories of working with Michael Rooker, there were obviously a lot of kind words and tales of how the energy between both men, as well as their co-star Ariana Greenblatt, made their week of shooting together an absolute blast. But in that particular conversation, Dylan O’Brien clued me into the story of the backpack incident:

Playing “the Obi-Wan” of Love and Monsters, as he likes to put it, Michael Rooker’s character, Clyde, acts as a mentor to Dylan O’Brien’s hopeless romantic/hero in training, Joel. A lot of journeying takes place once Joel is rescued by Clyde, and his young companion Minnow (Ariana Greenblatt,) and over time Joel is taught in the ways of dealing with the various creatures that make up the post-monsterpocalyptic landscape. So naturally, this is a character that knows how to pack for the end of the world, and that’s where this particular backpack’s weight comes into play.

Which leads to Michael Rooker’s side of the events that took place on the Love and Monsters set. Totally corroborating the fact that he did, indeed, have a bit of a fall, the road to such a fall is all the more interesting with the added context that Rooker lent to the moment. As it turns out, an 80-lb backpack was only the beginning of his worries, as some added gear was also included in the final lineup, and the demands of the scene provided the final, hysterical straw. As the actor noted:

So not only was there an 80-pound backpack involved in Love and Monsters’ big Michael Rooker moment on set, but there was also a sword, and a hatchet, as well as a belt’s worth of tools that Clyde has at the ready. Yet Rooker persevered. Both Rooker and his character were officially ready for anything that this apocalyptic romantic-comedy could throw their way, except for the one thing that ended up tripping the man up unexpectedly: the forces of gravity.

While you won’t exactly get to see the moment where Michael Rooker literally fell down on the job, you can see the adventure and the wisdom that Rooker helps Dylan O’Brien survive through in Love and Monsters. If you’re interested in going back to the movies, the film is currently in limited theatrical release, so check your local listings for showtimes if you’re so inclined. However, if you’re looking to stay home, then you can also check the movie out as it’s currently available on VOD. Either way, the monsterpocalypse awaits for those who seek it, and there’s much more on the way to theaters throughout the rest of the year when you check out the 2020 release schedule.

Love is already a touchy subject, and a very delicate thing to navigate, in life and movies. Monsters are usually gigantic, but almost always ferocious, and ready to rock and ruin at a moment’s notice. So what if we were to see a film that mashed those two things together? Well, it wouldn’t be the first time, but this new trailer for Paramount’s Love and Monsters sees Dylan O’Brien ditching the mazes he’s run in the past in favor of a creature-filled apocalypse. As you’ll see below, it’s an adventure that looks absolutely wild, even by 2020 standards!

From the top of Love and Monsters’ first look right through to the end, we see poor Joel (Dylan O’Brien) go from lovesick young man on a romantic date with his girlfriend, Amy (Jessica Henwick) to an underground refugee whose lost his parents, his home, and presumably his true love. Of course, all it takes is one radio conversation to put Joel on the road to reunion, as Amy’s still out there, and he’s determined to find her. He’ll just have to survive a lot of things that are trying to eat him, and stay on the right side of an expert hunter (Michael Rooker) and his young companion (Ariana Greenblatt), and he should be able to survive to the end of his journey.

There is a strong Zombieland style vibe coming off of Love and Monsters, with a little bit of A Quiet Place mixed in. At least, that’s what it feels like while watching this colorful romp of gigantic lifeforms, a boy, and his dog play out through the space of this lightning quick trailer. But that’s not a knock at what we’ve seen, as it’s meant to be a compliment. If there was ever at time we could use a bright and funny movie that throws monsters and quips at the audience, it’s surely now. Which is interesting, as this movie has been in process for almost a decade, through Free Guy director/producer extraordinaire Shawn Levy.

We previously knew this film by its original name, Monster Problems; however a new title seemed to be in the cards, as most folks liked to joke that the film was a stealth sequel to a previous Paramount comedy, Monster Trucks. Though, if we’re being completely honest, it would have been kind of cool to see Creech from that particular universe interacting with Joel and some of the other colorful beasties we’re seeing in Love and Monsters’ first trailer. Which is funny, considering Monster Trucks writer Matthew Robinson and The Babysitter franchise creator Brian Duffield are both credited with the story to this new would-be blockbuster.

Love and Monsters looks ready to appeal to fans of both, along with dog lovers and those in need of a nice, breezy laugh. And in a world where most movies are pushing into 2021, this film actually finds itself dropping much earlier than anticipated, as Love and Monsters is set to drop on major digital retailers on October 16th. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of movies left for 2021 to take hold of, and you can see the full list over on our 2021 release schedule!

The battle against COVID-19 continues to wage across the US. With cases rising, more celebrities reportedly have become infected with the virus, including the likes of Dwayne Johnson and (reportedly) Robert Pattinson. Now, it looks like Guardians of the Galaxy’s Michael Rooker has waged his own fight against the virus and won the war.

The coronavirus has wreaked havoc across the world, and while it can be deadly for anyone infected, it especially puts people advanced in years or who have weakened immune systems at risk. Since Michael Rooker is 65 years old, that could put him in a more delicate spot. However, he recently shared on his Instagram page that he’s all right and had a hard-fought battle against COVID-19. Here’s what he had to say:

Symptoms for COVID-19 have reportedly been varied from one person to the other, but seem to include fever, shortness of breath, body aches, and even losing your sense of smell. However, some have said they didn’t have any symptoms at all.

For Michael Rooker, it sounds like he had an up and down fight, feeling bad one day and better the next. Thankfully, as he said, his battle against COVID-19 has come to an end. He later said,

This is all around great news. While Michael Rooker, Tom Hanks, and Dwayne Johnson have all come out on the other side of a COVID-19 diagnosis, other actors, sadly, have not, including That Thing You Do’s Adam Schlesinger and Blue Blood’s actor Nick Cordero. It doesn’t have to be said, but it’s a very dangerous and deadly disease.

Though Michael Rooker has been acting since the 80s, he’s grown quite a fanbase for his role as Merle Dixon in AMC’s The Walking Dead and then Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy. While it’s highly unlikely he’s coming back as Yondu, Michael Rooker fans are excited that he's re-teaming with James Gunn for The Suicide Squad, playing the character Savant (the blockbuster completed production last year and is currently in the editing stage preparing for its 2021 release date). For more movie news, be sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend.

It looks like the titular crew of The Suicide Squad is undergoing some major changes. Fans need not worry about losing favorites like Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, Academy Award-winner Viola Davis' Amanda Waller, Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag and even Jai Courtney's Captain Boomerang. Yet, they should expect writer-director James Gunn’s new take on DC’s villainous crew of forced vigilantes to introduce a lot more characters into the mix (and I mean a lot more).

While there is still much being kept under wraps about the story of this new film we hesitate to call a sequel, which is set for a theatrical release of August 6, 2021, the DC FanDome event recently revealed nearly every previously unknown role that the star-studded cast (including Idris Elba and Nathan Fillion) are playing. While most of these characters are making their first official jump from comic books onto the screen, all of them are making their cinematic debuts in The Suicide Squad, and many of them may surprise you by their mere existence alone.

So who are the latest baddies to join Task Force X, what can we learn from their comic book origins and what should we expect from them in the upcoming film? Let’s take a deeper look at all 13 of these fresh faces to find out.

Bloodsport (Idris Elba)

While Idris Elba was originally cast to replace Will Smith as Deadshot in The Suicide Squad, it was later decided to have him play a different kind of gun-toting baddie named Bloodsport. Born Robert DuBois, the expert marksman first appeared in a 1987 issue of Superman as a draft dodger who suffered a mental breakdown following his brother’s grave injuries in Vietnam. His affiliation with Task Force X came after hewas jailed for shooting the Man of Steel with Kryptonite bullets provided by Lex Luthor, which the cast’s DC FanDome panel hinted will be a plot point in the film.

Peacemaker (John Cena)

Another DC character with canonical ties to Vietnam is Peacemaker, the alter ego of Austrian-born Christopher Smith (née Schmidt), who is still designated as a superhero, but his willingness to kill in the name of peace makes him a good candidate for Task Force X. Not to mention the fact that this paroled war criminal is a schizophrenic who believes his helmet traps the souls of his victims (much like Katana’s sword) with violent tendencies often derived from his bipolar disorder. Meanwhile, in the behind-the-scenes footage released during DC Fandome, John Cena simply refers to his The Suicide Squad role as “douchey Captain America.”

The Thinker (Peter Capaldi)

Speaking of more despicable takes on Marvel characters from DC, imagine if Charles Xavier had used Cerebro for more sinister purposes. In the most basic ways, that description matches Clifford DeVoe, better known as The Thinker, whose “Thinking Cap” gives him superior intellect and telekinetic abilities. The New 52’s more nightmarish character design, a man of unknown origin with mind-enhancing technology built directly into his skull in lieu of a helmet, seems to have inspired former Doctor Who actor Peter Calpadi’s portrayal, as evident by his appearance in The Suicide Squad cast roll call video unveiled during the DC Fandome.

Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian)

Having already made comic book history for being part of the MCU, the Dark Knight trilogy, Fox’s Gotham series and the Arrowverse, actor David Dastmalchian will enter his fifth realm of franchise continuity with The Suicide Squad, where he plays the first live action iteration of Polka-Dot Man. The conceptually ridiculous, yet dangerous alter-ego of Abner Krill first appeared in Detective Comics #300 as Mister Polka-Dot, who took on Batman with a special suit comprised of multi-colored, removable polka-dots that can be used for a variety of purposes, from deadly weapons to getaway vehicles. How that has not been given the big screen treatment until now, I will never understand.

Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior)

The official reveal of 23-year-old Portuguese actress Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2 in The Suicide Squad certainly piques our curiosity, as it suggests the role is more than your typical gender-swap. The original Ratcatcher was Otis Flannegan, a convicted murderer who turned against his responsibilities as a Gotham City exterminator to instead become a leader of the rodents he was tasked to kill, training them as his attack minions. How this second generation of rat royalty may relate to Flannegan is unclear, but a blink-and-you-miss-it shot from the behind-the-scenes sneak peak hints that Melchior’s character may be his daughter.

Blackguard (Pete Davidson)

An explanation for Pete Davidson’s blonde hair on Saturday Night Live finally came with the confirmation that he plays Blackguard in The Suicide Squad. Originally a small-time thug of lower intelligence named Richard Hertz, he became a top enemy of Booster Gold under his more famous and less embarrassingly suggestive moniker after crime syndicate The 1,000 fitted him with a powerful suit of armor. The reveal of the The King of Staten Island star’s role in the comic book movie comes a few months after hinting he wore “a big, uncomfortable suit,” and “got to hold Glocks,” which was just enough to rightfully keep fans in the dark.

Savant (Michael Rooker)

Because it would not be a James Gunn movie without his good-luck charm Michael Rooker, the actor who played Yondu in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, appears in The Suicide Squad as Savant. That's the alter-ego of billionaire Brian Durlin, who originally aspired to be a Gotham vigilante, only to be apprehended and discouraged by his hero, Batman. That subsequently inspired him to turn to the dark side. It appears that Rooker’s portrayal of the professional blackmailer, who has made enemies with criminals and heroes alike, is based on The New 52, which sees Savant as a Task Force X member in his darkest interpretation yet.

King Shark (Steve Agee)

The shark-like humanoid being Nanaue, better known as King Shark, has been a staple of the Suicide Squad since the dawn of The New 52, joining around the same time his arch-enemy Superboy tagged along for a mission. The son of the Shark God has a slew of superpowers ranging from your typical speed and stamina to regenerative health, and he will be making his cinematic debut in The Suicide Squad after The CW’s The Flash marked his first live action appearance. Playing Shark King in mo-cap is comedian Steve Agee, but since no new information on Taika Waititi’s role in the film has been revealed, people are speculating the New Zealand-born, Oscar-winning filmmaker may provide the voice.

Floyd “TDK” Belkin (Nathan Fillion)

Floyd Belkin has been known by a few aliases, including Splitter and (most memorably and hilariously) Arm-Fall-Off-Boy, but TDK seems to be a new one made just for The Suicide Squad, in which he will debut as played by another one of James Gunn’s frequent players, Nathan Fillion. Inspired by a fan-created parody hero that artist Curt Swan and writer Gerard Jones decided to make canon, the character was rejected by the Legion of Superheroes in his first appearance from 1989’s Secret Origins Vol. 2 #46. It appears he may have finally found a home with Task Force X, unless this is just another one of the actor’s brief cameos that Gunn tends to cast him in.

Weasel (Sean Gunn)

Upholding tradition established by his mo-cap performance as Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn cast his brother, Sean Gunn, as the aptly named Weasel in The Suicide Squad. However, it was not until The New 52 reboot that the villain was an actual furry creature, as he was originally introduced in the mid-1980s as John Monroe, a professor driven to murder the students who gave him the loathsome nickname “Weasel” while dressed as that very animal. He has a particularly violent history in the Squad, too, most notably for killing The Thinker, so perhaps we should expect a little animosity between them in the film.

The Javelin (Flula Borg)

Like Flula Borg, the comedic actor who plays him, The Javelin is a man of German origin who decided to use his athletic talents with the track and field device for evildoing instead of winning competitions for no clear reason. The supervillain, whose protection of his true identity is by far his most successful achievement, would join the Suicide Squad after Green Lantern defeated him, with his violent tendencies making worthy addition. However, Circe killed him with his own javelin in the War of the Gods storyline, so we will have to wait and see if this character’s namesake weapon ends up treating him better in the upcoming film.

Mongal (Mayling Ng)

Described as an “ally” of the Suicide Squad, we have Mongal, played by martial artist Mayling Ng, making her second DC appearance, after playing an Amazonian in Wonder Woman. The tyrannical alien from Debstam IV and daughter of Mongul the Elder is well known for luring Superman onto her father’s prison satellite called Warworld. Mongal would eventually become the queen of Almerac, her twin brother Mongal the Younger ended her reign by decapitating her.

Sol Soria (Alice Braga)

There is not much we can report on who Alice Braga is playing in The Suicide Squad, other than it not being Poison Ivy as previous rumors suggested, as no character name Sol Soria exists in the DC Comics continuity. However, it could be speculated that she is either a gender-flipped iteration or relative of Juan Soria, a Justice League reject with an [electronic skeleton key for a hand](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/JuanSoria(PrimeEarth), whose brief stint in a couple of _Suicide Squad comics in 2018 ended when Killer Croc ate him. Hopefully, Sol Soria is blessed with a different fate.

What do you think? Does this new ensemble show promise that Task Force X will return bigger and better than ever in The Suicide Squad, or does it look a bloated recipe for disaster? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on this comic book movie extravaganza, as well as even more in-depth looks at the most anticipated upcoming movies and TV shows, here on CinemaBlend.

Having nailed his breakout role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer in the '80s, it only felt right for Michael Rooker's biggest TV show to also be within the horror realm. As The Walking Dead's Merle Dixon, Rooker had a strong introduction that was somewhat undercut by sporadic appearances in later seasons, with the character's demise happening in Season 3. While more than a few TWD vets have spoken ill of the show killing off characters willy nilly, Rooker has more often than not been grateful for his time as Merle.

In a recent interview with Syfy Wire that also tapped into the actor's Guardians of the Galaxy fun, Michael Rooker got into some Walking Dead talk, and shared his very favorite scene to play as Merle. And no, it didn't involve Norman Reedus' iconic ugly cry. In his words:

While I might have thought that Michael Rooker would have preferred a later-stage Merle scene where the character got to rock a highly deadly attachment for his severed arm, the actor's favorite sequence actually came largely before he even lost his hand. The moments Rooker is talking about come in Season 1's very second episode, titled "Guts."

In "Guts," Merle's moronic and racist actions against T-Dog cause Rick to handcuff him to a pipe on a building's roof. The episode gave Rooker's Merle several moments to wax on, particularly when it's just him and T-Dog on the roof and Merle is trying to convince the guy he tried to beat up that he deserves to be set free. Not the most sound logic, by any stretch. Inevitably, the handcuff key gets lost, and the main group is forced to leave Merle behind. Not that he died, of course. Rather, he made the unenviable choice to cut off his own hand, leading to his weaponized appendage in the future as one of The Governor's henchmen.

Much talk has been had over Michael Rooker's hiatus from The Walking Dead, and the actor himself seems to think it all came down to the writing teams not fully realizing how to use the actor to their full advantage. Here's how he put it:

Many Walking Dead fans would have loved it if Merle could have survived long enough to fully rejoin Rick's group, but it was never meant to be. Thankfully, Rooker found renewed fan-favorite fame within the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. Here's hoping he gets a chance to return as a hallucination or dream or some other way.

The Walking Dead is still waiting for the chance for production to start up again, so that the Season 10 finale can finally wrap up and air for fans. Season 11 is still currently set for a late 2020 debut, though that will probably change if the cast and crew aren't able to keep working in the coming months. While waiting, here's what audiences can expect to see debuting on TV this fall.

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Over the past decade of filmmaking, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a well-oiled machine. Every single installment in Phase Three was a critical and box office success, including James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The second installment in the fan favorite franchises added a ton of depth to its characters, especially former villains Nebula and Yondu. The latter character was played by Walking Dead alum Michael Rooker, and he recently posted a Father's Day post that is sure to get some Marvel fans misty eyed.

While Yondu was an antagonist of the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, his backstory and relationship with Peter Quill were greatly expanded in the sequel. Because while Star-Lord spent Vol. 2 trying to connect with his biological father Ego, the real person responsible for his safety was Yondu all along. Eventually Yondu sacrificed himself to save Peter, and Michael Rooker honored that moment with a Father's Day post. Check it out below.

I'm not crying, you're crying. The reveal about Yondu and his eventual death is one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the entire of the MCU, reducing audiences (and Kevin Smith) to puddles in the process. Michael Rooker's post for Father's Day is made doubly powerful by the character's ongoing legacy within the shared universe, and how audience members might relate their own father to that heartbreaking dynamic.

Michael Rooker shared this tear-worthy meme over on his personal Instagram, while wishing a Happy Father's Day to "all the daddies out there." Rooker's tenure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe presumably came to an end with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which honored Yondu with a gorgeous funeral scene following his tragic death. But Rooker has continued interacting with the fandom, often quoting his character's iconic lines in the process.

Marvel fans can re-watch the Guardians of the Galaxy's tenure in the MCU on Disney+. You can use this link for a free 7-day trial to the streaming service.

James Gunn's original Guardians of the Galaxy introduced Yondu as an alien Ravager who kidnapped Peter Quill as a child, tormenting him as he grew up in the cosmos. But the sequel revealed that he knew that Ego was going to likely murder his son, which is why Yondu kept Star-Lord from his father for so long. Although obviously the blue character he wasn't a warm and fuzzy father figure.

As a reminder, you can check out Yondu's death scene from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 below, including the line that Michael Rooker quoted on Instagram.

Yeah, that scene still slaps all these years later. Prior to Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, Yondu's death was probably the most emotional death scene in the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But those pair of movies would see the emotional death of characters like Vision, Black Widow, and Iron Man. But Yondu was also given a gorgeous space funeral, complete with fireworks.

Despite his death, some Marvel fans are hoping that Yondu pops up in James Gunn's upcoming Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 3.. James Gunn has addressed these hopes and theories, maintaining that the character is definitely dead, so any appearances in the threequel would have to be dreams or flash backs. But Gunn hasn't confirmed or denied his plans for Guardians 3.

The next installment in the MCU is Black Widow on November 6th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Since its debut on Halloween night in 2010, AMC's The Walking Dead has gone from an intimate adaptation of the Robert Kirkman's long-running comic book series to a massive cultural phenomenon thanks in part to the the rich storylines and the expansive cast that almost outnumbers the army of zombies that populate the show's landscape. And over the course of the show's first 10 seasons, many members of the cast like Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, and Jon Bernthal have become gone from relatively unknown actors to massive stars.

But with a cast as large as the one on The Walking Dead there are bound to be a few that leave the show either because their characters' stories are finished or they want to move onto something else and further their careers. And even though we'll be seeing the return of Lauren Cohan's Maggie when Season 11 premieres, what about some of the other former members of the cast who left the series. What are they up to?

Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes)

Andrew Lincoln served as the anchor of the larger The Walking Dead cast with his portrayal of Rick Grimes for the show's first nine seasons, but the English actor and aggressive zip-up sweater wearing hopeless romantic in Love Actually had been planning on leaving the show as early as Season 8 but stayed on for one more season before leaving to spend more time with his family. Since leaving the AMC series, Lincoln has kept a relatively low profile, but he is set to appear in the upcoming drama Penguin Bloom where he will star alongside Naomi Watts. And despite no longer being on the show, Lincoln recently gave former co-star Danai Gurira a touching sendoff following her final episode. 

Speaking of The Walking Dead, we're still waiting for more news on those spinoff movies featuring the return of Rick Grimes.

Danai Gurira (Michonne)

It seems like it was just yesterday that Danai Gurira announced that she would be stepping away from her role of Michonne after Season 10 of The Walking Dead, explaining that she was being called to other things in her life during a panel at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con. Even before and since her departure, Gurira has remained quite busy balancing time as a hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as a hero in the real world as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, which she was named in December 2018. On top of that, the former The Walking Dead star is busy at work writing the upcoming HBO Max series Americanah, as well as Godzilla Vs. Kong, which is slated to come out in the November 2020.

Jon Bernthal (Shane Walsh)

Jon Bernthal is one of those quietly amazing actors, and that was no different in his portrayal of Shane Walsh, Rick Grimes' former best friend-turned-enemy in the first two seasons of The Walking Dead. The role was suspected to be short-lived from the jump, but there are times when you can't help but miss the gravity Shane brought to many of the situations early on in the series. 

Since leaving the series, Bernthal has become one of the most prolific actors of our time with bit roles in a number of instant-classics as well as Frank Castle on the Netflix Marvel series Daredevil and Punisher. And with several upcoming projects including the TV adaptation of American Gigolo and The Many Saints Of Newark (the long-awaited prequel film to The Sopranos), it looks like we'll be seeing more of Bernthal for years to come.

Sarah Wayne Callies (Lori Grimes)

For three seasons on The Walking Dead, Sarah Wayne Callies portrayed Lori Grimes, but the character's fate when she sacrificed herself to give birth to Judith during a Cesarean section that ultimately took her life. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Callies stated that the character had to die in order to push Rick Grimes to the next level. After leaving the show, Callies went on to return to the Fox series Prison Break as well as the TNT drama Colony. The actress is currently on the NBC series The Council Of Dads, a series Callies told The Sioux City Journal stopped her from quitting acting altogether.

Laurie Holden (Andrea)

Laurie Holden was quite vocal about the death of her character Andrea in the Season 3 finale of The Walking Dead, the culmination of a storyline with the Governor the actress was not too fond of following her departure. Since leaving the show, Holden has remained quite busy both with her acting career (which most recently included television work on Proven Innocent and animated feature Arctic Dogs) and her work in charity and human rights work, including the Somaly Mam Foundation, Operation Underground Railroad, and Home From Home.

Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale Horvath)

Jeffrey DeMunn was one of the members of the original Atlanta crew in the first two seasons of The Walking Dead, but the actor asked to be killed off after Frank Darabont, the original showrunner, was pushed out of the production. DeMunn and Darabont have worked together multiple times over the years starting with the 1994 release of The Shawshank Redemption, so it should come as no surprise that the actor would leave in that fashion. Since leaving the show, DeMunn has remained busy in film and television, including the Showtime series Billions, where he currently plays Chuck Rhoades, Sr.

Steven Yeun (Glenn Rhee)

There is no death on The Walking Dead more shocking and unsettling than the brutal murder of Steven Yeun's Glenn by the hands of the evil Negan. Like many of the characters in the series, their deaths were predetermined in the pages of the original comic series, and that's the case for Glenn, though Robert Kirkman shared with Entertainment Weekly that there were talks of keeping him around. Those talks never panned out, but Yeun has stayed busy with projects like Sorry To Bother You, Burning, and the upcoming A24 feature The Humans, where the actor will star alongside Jayne Houdyshell, Richard Jenkins, Beanie Feldstein, Amy Schumer, and June Squibb.

Michael Rooker (Merle Dixon)

Michael Rooker only appeared in 14 episodes of The Walking Dead, but his performance as Daryl Dixon's older and antagonistic brother Merle is one worth remembering. There was no saving Merle after he turned into a zombie at the end of Season 3, but the death of his character hasn't stopped Rooker from continuing his career in film and television. After leaving the series, Rooker became an even bigger star following his portrayal of Yondu in Guardians Of The Galaxy and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2., where he reunited with James Gunn. The partnership, which started with Slither, will continue when Rooker appears in Gunn's 2021 The Suicide Squad. And expect to see the actor enter the Fast And Furious franchise with the 2012 release of F9.

Chandler Riggs (Carl Grimes)

One of the biggest shocks of Season 8 of The Walking Dead was the early departure of Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes from the series when Rick's son was bitten by a walker, ending his run in the process. Fans and stars of the show were equally as shocked by former showrunner Scott Gimple's choice of killing off one of the central characters, but no one took it as bad as Riggs' father who had some choice words for Gimple after his son was written off the show. In 2019, the former The Walking Dead star was cast as Patrick "PJ" Nelson on the ABC drama, A Million Little Things, which was renewed in March 2020.

Sonequa Martin-Green

Sonequa Martin-Green  originally auditioned for the role of Michonne in The Walking Dead. Though the part ended up going to Danai Gurira, Martin-Green snagged the part of Sasha. She recurred on the series in Season 3 and was bumped up to a series regular in The Walking Dead's fourth season. Like many of her other former cast-members, Martin-Green's character had a very memorable exit. After her departure from The Walking Dead, Martin-Green took a starring role in the CBS All Access series, Star Trek: Discovery. She's also expected to appear in Space Jam: A New Legacy in 2021.

David Morrissey (Philip "The Governor" Blake)

Before the introduction of Negan, there was no character more dastardly or deadly than David Morrissey's portrayal of Philip "The Governor" Blake" starting in Season 3 of The Walking Dead. Like many of the characters featured in both the comic and television series, The Governor suffered a violent death during the Season 4 midseason finale. Since leaving The Walking Dead, Morrissey has gone on to have roles in Inside No. 9, the Amazon series Good Omens, and the upcoming Dampyr adaptation.

Lennie James (Morgan Jones)

Morgan Jones, portrayed by the great Lennie James, was one of the first characters Rick Grimes meets in Season 1 of The Walking Dead, and the character showed up several more times over subsequent seasons before becoming a member of the main cast starting in Season 6. And despite dying in Season 8, Morgan had the rare distinction of showing up in the spinoff series Fear The Walking Dead, where James remains as a series regular. In addition to The Walking Dead universe, James has shown up in films like Blade Runner 2049 and the upcoming Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway.

Those are just a few of former The Walking Dead stars that have gone on to continue their careers in film, television, and elsewhere in recent years. I'm sure whenever the show returns, we can expect to see more characters and actors on this list. If you want to know which former castmember hasn't watched the AMC series, you can check that out here on CinemaBlend.

When Guardians of the Galaxy was released in 2014, it became an incredible critical and commercial success. Even by Marvel's standards, director James Gunn's goofy, charmingly irreverent ensemble piece was a rousing, top-earning blockbuster, one that elevated many of its stars into A-list status, including Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista, while also further advancing the careers of Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, and Michael Rooker. 

The movies remain a favorite among Marvel lovers and casual moviegoers alike, but it can be easy to forget/overlook some of the Guardians of the Galaxy cast's earlier performances. Indeed, before each of these celebrities made a name for themselves (or continued to shine), they had smaller, less remembered roles in some famous (and not-so-famous) movies and TV shows. Let's take a look at some films and shows that you might've forgotten were on the resumes of these famous stars.

Chris Pratt - Wanted

If you saw 2008's Wanted, you probably remember the scene where James McAvoy's Wesley Gibson, a frustrated account manager who discovers his father is a professional assassin and joins his secret society of mercenaries, triumphantly quits his horrendous cubicle job and gleefully whacks the dim-witted, self-centered co-worker (who's cheating with his girlfriend) with his computer keyboard, right smack in the jaw. What you might not remember, though, is that this minor role in this major action blockbuster was played by a pre-fame Chris Pratt. 

Yes, years before the A-lister became a household name with Parks and Recreation and Guardians of the Galaxy, Pratt played supporting roles in movies like Bride Wars, Jennifer's Body, Zero Dark Thirty, Strangers With Candy, and the aforementioned Wanted, paving the way for his commercial success roughly five years later. Indeed, before he became a hit-making action star, Pratt could take a hit.

Zoe Saldana - Center Stage

Roughly a decade before she starred in 2009's Star Trek and Avatar, thus being prominently featured in two of the biggest action franchises of the following decade, and before she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Guardians of the Galaxy, Zoe Saldana had noteworthy roles in small movies like Crossroads and Drumline, as well as bigger films like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Steven Spielberg's The Terminal, though some audiences were first introduced to the young actress through the dance drama, Center Stage. 

The 2000 film earned a cult following, so it's certainly not forgotten by some, but it didn't get a loud response upon its release. Nevertheless, it was a bright showcase for Saldana's early talents, and it'd only be a few years later when she appeared in some of the biggest movies of the early 21st century.

Dave Bautista - Smallville

Before he became Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy, Dave Bautista was best known as a professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, with only a few acting credits to his name outside of the WWE. But Bautista did pick up the occasional acting gig, whether it was Chuck, The Man with the Iron Fists, or Riddick, including a notable guest star appearance in Smallville back in 2006. Credited solely by his stage name, Batista, at the time, this brief television appearance found our wrestler-turned-actor sparring with the Man of Steel. While he didn't win this round, it was only a matter of time before Bautista found his big career triumph in this hugely successful Marvel blockbuster — thus paving the way for other acting roles, including Blade Runner 2049, Spectre, Hotel Artemis, Stuber, and the upcoming My Spy, Dune, and Army of the Dead.

Vin Diesel - Awakenings

Vin Diesel has seen an interesting career progression. The actor struggled to find roles at first, leading to his autobiographical short film, Multi-Facial, which he wrote, directed, and starred in. The short film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and got the attention of Steven Spielberg, leading Diesel to make his feature directorial debut, Strays, and playing a supporting role in his award-winning war drama, Saving Private Ryan. 

A few years later, Diesel was playing lead roles in action movies like Pitch Black and The Fast and the Furious, which gave way to their own individual franchises and turned Diesel into an international superstar, including his one-sentence turn as Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy. Before all this happened, however, he earned his first acting credit in Penny Marshall's Awakenings. Or, should we say, his first acting appearance, as Diesel was uncredited as a hospital orderly.

Bradley Cooper - Sex and the City

It wasn't until his starring role in 2009's The Hangover that Bradley Cooper became a leading man and, eventually, an Oscar-nominated actor, writer, producer, and director. In the years leading up to his incredible success this past decade or so, including his tremendous performance in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies as Rocket Raccoon, Cooper was designated primarily to supporting turns in popular (and not-so-popular) movies and TV shows, including Failure to Launch, Wedding Crashers, Yes Man, Alias, Law & Order: SVU, and Nip/Tuck. 

He also earned his first professional on-screen acting credit through an episode of HBO's Sex and the City, where he played a guy named Jake, a potential love interest for Carrie for a very brief (one episode) time. His character didn't play a noteworthy part in the immensely popular series, but it was a good calling card for the up-and-coming actor. Cooper would only continue to rise in the years that followed.

Michael Rooker - Cliffhanger

Making his film acting debut through a menacing turn in the bold, controversial crime drama, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Michael Rooker certainly caught a great deal of attention early into his career. In the years that followed, Rooker was known for playing supporting roles — often villains and antagonistic figures — in several movies and shows, including (but not limited to) Mississippi Burning, Tombstone, Mallrats, and the Sylvester Stallone mountain-climbing action movie, Cliffhanger. 

The early-'90s action movie featured death-defying stunts and a decent bit of cheese, but it also had Rooker playing Hal Tucker, the best friend of Stallone's character who blames him for failing to save his ill-fated girlfriend, who fell to her death at the start of the movie. It was a substantial role in this 1993 flick, but it would be a while before Rooker regained wide and/or prominent commercial success with 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy.

Karen Gillan - Oculus

Granted, Karen Gillan has found a great deal of success from the start of her career. The young Scottish actress gained both early critical acclaim and a fervent fanbase when she played Amy Pond for several years on Doctor Who. The standout role allowed the one-time TV actress to find notoriety in the United States too — notably with her performance as Nebula in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. 

So, there is a good chance that her fanbase hasn't forgotten about even some of her early performances, including Outcast, Harley Street, and the lead role in the romantic comedy, Not Another Happy Ending. But a year before she played this Marvel character, Gillan starred in the Blumhouse supernatural horror movie, Oculus, directed by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep). It was a critical and box office triumph, leading to continued career highlights.

Lee Pace - Law & Order: SVU

Earning critical acclaim with shows like Pushing Daisies and Wonderfalls, Lee Pace was a celebrated TV actor who gained a few noteworthy movie roles in A Single Man, Lincoln, The Fall, Marmaduke, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, and The Hobbit movies before he joined the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy as Ronan the Accuser. Before all these roles came to be, however, Pace's first professional on screen acting credit came from a 2002 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit where he played a prisoner named Benjamin Tucker. In typical Law & Order fashion, the brief appearance only lasted a single episode, but it was certainly a start. Certainly, it was the guest role that eventually paved the way to the actor's future film and TV endeavors, including Halt & Catch Fire, the upcoming Foundation, and more to follow.

Who is your favorite Guardians of the Galaxy actor? Let us know in the comment section below!

Sylvester Stallone has worked with his fair share of actors over the course of his 40-year film career. From Carl Weathers to Arnold Schwarzenegger, he’s collaborated with some of the best, but there’s one actor that may trump the rest in terms of how eccentric he is. The actor in question is Guardians of the Galaxy star Michael Rooker, who worked with Stallone on Cliffhanger. Rooker is known for being a character himself, and it sounds like this was the case when he and Stallone worked together.

Sylvester Stallone recently participated in an Instagram Q&A, in which opened up about different aspects of his illustrious career. During the chat, one fan asked him about working with Michael Rooker on Cliffhanger and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Stallone had nothing but praise for his former co-star and even recounted some of Rooker’s behind-the-scenes antics on the set of Cliffhanger:

It’s safe to say that not many people would emulate some of the things Michael Rooker did on the set of Cliffhanger. Although sliding across a canyon sounds extreme, Rooker seems like the kind of person who would get his kicks from attempting dangerous stunts for fun.

Michael Rooker has been known for creating some interesting situations when working on film sets. While working on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the actor nearly ruined one of the film’s key moments because he fell asleep in the middle of shooting. Luckily, things worked out for the crew.

These antics also carried into his work on The Walking Dead. During his early days on the show, the actor was trying on Merle’s costume for the first time and, while wearing the character’s signature hand knife, he didn’t realize just how far along his hand it was. This almost led to him stabbing the wardrobe person, but the result was only a light poke, as Rooker put it.

Aside from his on-set shenanigans, Michael Rooker has also never shied away from speaking his mind. Just recently, he was asked about the possibility of Yondu, his Guardians of the Galaxy character, being revived for the upcoming sequel, which Rooker emphatically shot down.

Michael Rooker isn’t the most conventional actor working in Hollywood today, and that’s certainly not a bad thing. If anything, it’s actually made him more endearing to his various co-stars, and that shines through in Sylvester Stallone’s comments. Here’s to seeing more from Michael Rooker in the near future.

Once upon a time in the world of comic book movies, we almost got to see a little movie called Superman Lives take its place as the fifth film in Warner Bros. film adaptation of the last son of Krypton. And with any good Superman, you need a fantastic Lex Luthor to really make his day a living hell. As it turns out, Kevin Smith, the man who wrote that very unmade project, had his fantastic Lex Luthor in mind right from the start: Guardians of the Galaxy’s Michael Rooker.

During Focus Features’ livestream commentary on Mallrats, Smith was on hand to drop all sorts of knowledge into the chat box. In-between amazing tidbits about landing Stan Lee, Shannon Doherty getting the film green lit, and a whole bunch of details pertaining to the sequel Twilight of the Mallrats, Kevin Smith included this rather awesome gem:

Interestingly enough, Kevin Smith has previously mentioned how he wanted Michael Rooker to play the Luthor to Nicolas Cage’s Superman. But knowing this intentions dates back the writing process takes that story to a whole new level; the iconic actor was in mind when Kevin Smith was crafting the character.

Traditionally Lex Luthor has been known as conniving and devious, but he isn’t typically known as being someone very physical. So the fact that Kevin Smith would want to cast the actor he got to film nude in Mallrats as Superman Lives’ variant of Luthor almost hints at a Lex could have been a real fighter. Maybe he could have even taken Supes in a post-Kryptonite exposure fist fight that would level the playing field.

Unfortunately Superman Lives, which was supposed to be directed by none other than Tim Burton himself, and would eventually see a re-write from Rogue One writer Dan Gilroy never came to be. Even after getting Nic Cage fitted and ready with his very ‘90s Superman costume, the project never even got to the first up in “Up, up, and away.” Remaining one of the greatest curiosities of comic book cinema, fans can only imagine what this movie would have turned out to be.

And now, we can only imagine how bad ass Michael Rooker’s Lex Luthor would have been in Superman Lives. Though we don’t have to imagine what the gigantic robotic spider the film’s producer Jon Peters wanted to put in the movie would look like. That concept would be reused in one of Peter’s later films, the Will Smith/Kevin Kline film Wild Wild West.

Fans can at least take comfort that while we didn’t get Rooker’s Lex Luthor in our eyes, we at least got to see him bring Guardians of the Galaxy’s Yondu into the world. So it’s not all that bad, right?

Mallrats is available on Digital HD, as well as Blu-ray and DVD.

Michael Rooker has a few words for fans who want Yondu back: it isn’t happening. While the actor has entertained speculation about how his character would fit into future MCU films, he’s made it pretty clear he has no plans to bring those ideas to life. He’s got a very clear cut reason for why he won’t reprise the role, too -- one that’s hard to argue with.

In what was easily one of the most heartbreaking moments in all of the MCU, Yondu sacrificed himself to save Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. He also absolutely, definitely died, if the spectacular funeral he had at the end of the movie wasn't any indication. That’s a huge bummer for fans of a character who transformed from antagonist to ally. But it is what it is, and Michael Rooker has no problem shutting down any speculation as to whether or not Yondu will ever be resurrected:

James Gunn most definitely agrees with that sentiment. He has always been clear that he wouldn’t bring a character back to life in one of his films -- especially Yondu, because it would make his sacrifice less impactful. He has admitted that it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to have Michael Rooker return as Yondu in a flashback or prequel situation, but there’s no indication we’ll get that in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. During his interview on Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast, Michael Rooker said he agrees with James Gunn about the importance of sticking to a character’s death:

I don’t know about you, but I have a feeling we won’t be seeing Michael Rooker in blue-face again any time soon. That doesn’t mean he’ll never work with James Gunn again, though -- the pair are longtime friends, and the actor has appeared in most of the director’s movies up until this point. James Gunn even has a stock of Rooker-themed toilet paper he recently had to break out.

The most interesting point here is that Michael Rooker definitely isn’t saying no to more time with the MCU -- he’d just want to play a different character. If that ever came to pass, he wouldn’t be the first actor to pull double duty in a Marvel production. But his performance as Yondu was so memorable, it would be interesting to see how fans would respond to seeing him in an entirely different role.

What do you think? Would you be up for another Michael Rooker-MCU collab? Let us know in the comments.

Over the course of 11 years and 23 films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has killed off plenty of characters in tear-inducing moments, from Agent Phil Coulson in The Avengers to Black Widow in Avengers: Endgame. Even the MCU stars themselves have not been immune to getting misty-eyed. When presented with the question of which sendoff made him cry more, Tony Stark’s or that of his own character, Yondu, Guardians of the Galaxy star Michael Rooker revealed why Yondu Udonta’s death was particularly affecting, saying:

The death of Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 made Michael Rooker cry the most of any MCU death, more than even the heroic end of Tony Stark, but not for the reasons you might think. Michael Rooker didn’t shed tears specifically for his character and the death that seemingly signaled the end of his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; he cried because of how Yondu’s death affected the other characters.

Now this may be a little unclear from Michael Rooker’s answer to TooFab, but since the actor has two daughters, who he's presumably referencing here when talking about his ‘son’ is Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill. Michael Rooker shed tears when watching Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 because of how Peter Quill reacted to Yondu’s death, which saw Yondu sacrifice his life to save his surrogate son.

In that moment at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Peter Quill truly realizes what he meant to Yondu and what Yondu meant to him, understanding that the family you choose is just as important as blood. Peter Quill was devastated at Yondu’s death and his eyes welled up with tears, and so too, it seems, did Michael Rooker’s.

Michael Rooker seemed to identify with Yondu and was happy to seem him sacrifice himself to save Star-Lord, as most parents would surely be to save their children. However, that still meant seeing his son in pain, and that’s enough to turn on the waterworks. It’s not exactly like sympathetic laughter where you cry simply because someone else is crying, but it’s similar to that with the added emotional element of Peter being Yondu’s surrogate son.

While Michael Rooker’s Yondu may not be nearly as important a character as Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, those two arguably had the most glorious and tear-jerking sendoffs. Other characters, like Quicksilver, Loki and Black Widow, died in moments where there was no time for the characters or the audience to stop and grieve. Tony Stark and Yondu both had characters gathering to say goodbye and remember them, allowing their deaths to really sink in and the grieving for the characters and the audience to take place.

In the world of comic books, death is not always a permanent state of affairs, so many have wondered if we could see Michael Rooker’s Yondu back in some fashion in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Writer-director James Gunn has indicated that he won’t bring Yondu back to life in the film. So barring a flashback or some kind of hallucination, his time is done.

We will, however, see James Gunn and Michael Rooker teaming once again for The Suicide Squad, which hits theaters on August 6, 2021. Right now, Michael Rooker is starring in Blumhouse's Fantasy Island, which is now playing. For other movies arriving this year, check out our 2020 Release Schedule.

Fantasy Island hasn't done much to promote Michael Rooker's role, but he's in it. The movie also gave him a career "worst" that he actually loved -- and no I don't mean Fantasy Island's low Rotten Tomatoes score, since it's actually not even his lowest. No, when Rooker was asked about his favorite part about filming the movie in Fiji, he had quite a surprising response, mentioning a "worst" for any movie role so far:

Ugly Fiji attire is the new ugly Christmas sweater! Michael Rooker is featured in Fantasy Island's international trailer for a second, and the photo above gives you a taste of that ugly wardrobe he talked about with TooFab.

Is that really worse than Michael Rooker's dirty wardrobe as Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead? That's not a movie, but still. Or as Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy? Actually, Yondu's wardrobe was pretty cool -- and his hair and makeup were amazing. He's Mary Poppins, y'all.

Fantasy Island's marketing has mostly focused on Michael Peña as Mr. Roarke, along with the main characters played by Lucy Hale, Maggie Q, Austin Stowell, Portia Doubleday, Jimmy O. Yang, and Ryan Hansen.

Blumhouse's Fantasy Island follows a group of strangers who visit a luxurious resort only to have their deepest desires turn into nightmares. The 2020 movie is based on the '70s TV show, and star Lucy Hale told Fox News what fans of the original show could take away from the film:

Sadly, the scariest thing about Fantasy Island might be the reactions to it. Critics have not been kind, including here at CinemaBlend. So far, the movie has a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Michael Rooker's 2009 movie Super Capers is still lower with 6%), with an audience score at 49%. Fantasy Island's CinemaScore is C-, which is not good but also not the "D" that Downhill got. Fantasy Island currently has a 4.7/10 rating on IMDb from 1,189 users.

So it's not exactly a hit, but horror movies often become cult classics over time. When Fantasy Island gets a home release, it may find its niche. As for its opening weekend, it's expected to take third behind Sonic the Hedgehog -- which is having a huge four-day holiday weekend -- and the newly retitled Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey. Fantasy Island is expected to make about $14.6 million across the four-day opening, according to Deadline.

Whatever happens from here, at least Michael Rooker got a trip to Fiji that gave him the best/worst wardrobe of his career to date. Then again, Rooker is also part of Guardians director James Gunn's The Suicide Squad and his look in that movie may be the best/worst yet. We shall see.

Director James Gunn is a very busy man. Gunn became a household thanks to his work on the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, which elevated the group of unknown characters to the top of the MCU. After he was briefly fired by Marvel, the filmmaker pivoted over to DC for The Suicide Squad. With two different comic book blockbusters coming, Gunn has been fielding all sorts of questions on his social media. This includes clarifying Yondu's possible role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

James Gunn was fired by Marvel in July of 2018, before eventually being reinstated to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The filmmaker will be able to complete his Marvel trilogy, and wrap up the story he began when the first movie arrived in 2014. But Vol. 3 was also delayed quite a bit, leaving more time for the rabid fanbase the theorize about its contents. A fan recently asked of Yondu would be brought back in the threequel, to which Gunn said:

Well, that seems pretty cut and dry. James Gun is a director who believes in real consequences and stakes for superhero movies. As such, he won't be retconning Yondu's death out of the canon with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

James Gunn's comments about Yondu comes from his personal Twitter page. While the social media service is what got him into trouble and temporarily fired from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, he's continued to be extremely generous with his time, using Twitter and Instagram to directly communicate with the fans. Gunn did plenty of Q&A's on Instagram during filming of The Suicide Squad, and the questions often turn to his upcoming Guardians sequel.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 greatly moved the group's story forward, with each of the Guardians becoming more fleshed out. Michael Rooker's Yondu did perhaps the biggest about-face, going from a secondary antagonist to an unlikely ally and father figure for Star-Lord. The blue antihero was ultimately given one of the most devastating death scenes of the entire MCU, as well as a firework-fueled Ravager funeral in space.

Yondu's death seemed pretty cut and dry, and he wasn't mentioned during the course of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Additionally, those movies jumped ahead years after the events of Guardians 2 in order to get the team on the same timeline as the rest of the shared universe. So not only is Yondu dead, but it's been a long time since Peter Quill and company lost Michael Rooker's character.

This isn't the first time that James Gunn has been asked about Yondu and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Fans have been hoping that the character might still pop up in the threequel, despite his apparent death. But Gunn was consistently shut down rumors of Yondu returning from the dead, as he wants his Marvel movies to have true stakes.

Yondu might not be brought back to life, but James Gunn has suggested a few was the blue guy might briefly appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Namely by including flashbacks from when he was still alive. But Gunn obviously wasn't going to confirm this type of macguffin.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is currently set to arrive in theaters sometime in 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

With all of the dead characters that have piled up over the years, The Walking Dead has run through a longer line of actors than most primetime dramas, and the franchise's open-ended future likely means many more body piles are coming. One of the more well-known cast members in the early days, Michael Rooker signed on to play Merle Dixon, but only appeared in a few episodes before officially becoming a regular in Season 3, during which he was killed off. According to Rooker, that death was probably a money thing.

Michael Rooker appeared at the Wales Comic Con recently, where he actually crashed a Guardians of the Galaxy panel for which Sean Gunn was the guest. It wasn't very long before someone asked Rooker whether he preferred being in The Walking Dead franchise or in Guardians of the Galaxy's world. Here's his amusing answer:

To me, that's the kind of comment that Michael Rooker has probably had bouncing around his brain for a long time, but without a whole lot of opportunities to bring such things up, it remained situated inside his brain until that Wales Comic Con panel. It's not always the wisest or classiest move to drop complaints like that about a former series or network, but Rooker is the kind of DGAF actor who does what does and can be done with it.

Looking back at Rooker's sporadic run on The Walking Dead, it always did seem strange that he was only around for three episodes across the first two seasons before being promoted to a series regular for Season 3. (Not entirely strange, since the hunt for Merle mirrors a lot of "hunt for character" plotlines this show has utilized over the years.) The angry redneck wasn't exactly the most irreplaceable character, of course, but his familial connection to Daryl made him seemingly necessary.

Once Merle was revealed to be part of The Governor's ranks, it made even more sense for him to stick around for the duration of that plotline, so that Michael Rooker could relish in the more outlandish antagonism. Unfortunately, Merle's devotion to Daryl outweighed his devotion to the Governor, and he didn't last much longer before getting his fingers bitten off and his chest getting opening up with bullets, leading to Daryl's infamous ugly-cry scene, and Zombie Merle's ultimate death.

Michael Rooker's Walking Dead experience was perhaps indicative of the problems happening behind the scenes during those early years as it became one of the most popular series on TV. Co-creator Frank Darabont's highly contentious (and litigious) exit ahead of Season 2 changed the show's creative path in many ways, with Glen Mazzara stepping in as showrunner until the end of Season 3, when he and AMC parted ways over creative differences. That's when the Scott Gimple era began, which itself would end post-Negan as he took on a larger role within the ever-growing franchise, with Angela Kang taking over as showrunner.

Not that The Walking Dead's later years haven't had their own issues both on screen and behind the scenes, but that was at a point when AMC was in the throes of Mad Men and Breaking Bad props. Though TWD's six-episode first season was popular, the numbers were humble enough that AMC saw nothing wrong with cutting the series' budget down, despite doubling the episode count. It's hard to get a concrete confirmation that financial reasons are what kept Michael Rooker out of the show completely in Season 2, and why he was killed off ahead of Season 3's conclusion, but it wouldn't be the biggest shock.

Since leaving The Walking Dead, Michael Rooker achieved a new level of mass fame as Yondo in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy films, and he'll be reprising the character in Marvel's What If? Having also taken on bit roles in True Detective and SEAL Team, Rooker has a huge future ahead of him, with roles in flicks such as Fast and Furious 9, Blumhouse's Fantasy Island remake and James Gunn's The Suicide Squad. I'm pretty sure none of those studios are cheap enough to cut him out. (His Dark Tower role will not see the light of day, thanks to Amazon passing on the project.)

You can check out the full Comic Con panel below.

While waiting to see Michael Rooker return to the big screen, be sure and tune into the back half of The Walking Dead Season 10 when it debuts on Sunday, February 23, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham may be sitting out the upcoming Fast & Furious 9 due to being busy with the spinoff Hobbs & Shaw, but the next entry in the Fast & Furious franchise is ensuring that there will be plenty of well-known actors involved. The latest casting update is that Guardians of the Galaxy’s Michael Rooker is being brought in to participate in the high octane craziness.

According to Deadline, Michael Rooker will be playing a character named Buddy, who is a last minute addition to the Fast & Furious 9 production, which started rolling cameras in late June. No details were provided about this Buddy, so we’ll have to wait and see whether he’ll be an ally or adversary to Dominic Toretto and his gang of car enthusiasts.

As the outlet noted, this makes 2020 an even bigger year for the actor. He was already slated to appear in Fantasy Island (based on the same-named TV series), Monster Problems and Amazon’s pilot for The Dark Tower, but now he also gets to take part in another popular film franchise, just two years after he bid farewell to another one of those.

Michael Rooker has assembled a wealth of credits from over three decades of acting, ranging from Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and Mallrats to Days of Thunder (another car-centric movie) and The Walking Dead, but in recent years, he’s arguably best known for playing Yondu in the first two Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Yondu died at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to save Peter Quill. While superhero stories are known for impermanent deaths, James Gunn has said that he doesn’t plan on resurrecting Yondu for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, leaving Michael Rooker free to lend his talents to another film series that cherishes family.

Michael Rooker is the fifth new actor to join Fast & Furious 9. He was preceded by John Cena, Finn Cole, Anna Sawai, Vinnie Bennett and UFC fighter Francis Ngannou though unlike Rooker, none of their characters have been identified yet, though Cena’s is unsurprisingly described as a “badass.”

As for Fast & Furious 9’s familiar faces, they include the regular lineup of Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto, Michelle Rodriguez’s Letty Ortiz, Tyrese Gibson’s Roman Pearce, Ludacris’ Tej Parker and Nathalie Emmanuel’s Ramsey. Fast & Furious 9 will also bring back Jordan Brewster’s Mia Toretto, who hasn’t been seen since Furious 7, as well as Helen Mirren’s Magdalene Shaw and Charlize Theron’s Cipher, both of whom were introduced in The Fate of the Furious. Mirren also cameoed in Hobbs & Shaw.

No plot details for Fast & Furious 9 have been revealed yet, but considering that this is intended to be the penultimate film of the main series, that means there’s a good chance that it will lay groundwork for the explosive finale that is Fast & Furious 10. It’ll also be interesting to see if Fast & Furious 9 in any ties to the events that went down in Hobbs & Shaw.

Fast & Furious 9 races into theaters on May 22, 2020, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage. Stay up-to-date on what else there is to look forward to for the rest of this year by scanning through our 2019 release schedule.

I know it's dangerous to assume. But I still assume James Gunn isn't just trolling fans with his posts on King Shark and The Suicide Squad. The DC movie is in pre-production now, and set to start filming in September in Atlanta for its August 2021 release date.

UPDATE: Per an August 24, 2019 Deadline report, comedian Steve Agee will be voicing King Shark in The Suicide Squad. If true -- and this isn't coming from James Gunn or DC so feel free to wait for confirmation -- it would mark a James Gunn reunion for Agee after he played one of the Ravagers, Gef, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

Back to original post:

King Shark is not confirmed to be involved, but he is reportedly in The Suicide Squad, and at one point it looked like Michael Rooker might play him. Rooker appeared to shoot down that rumor, which could mean 1) he isn't playing King Shark, but someone else is, 2) he's still playing King Shark and was just trolling fans, 3) King Shark isn't in the movie at all.

The first news about DC Comics supervillain King Shark/Nanaue being in The Suicide Squad came in March 2019 through a Collider report on the characters they heard would be in the movie. The site emphasized that nothing was confirmed, but the characters mentioned were Ratcatcher, King Shark, Polka-Dot Man, and Peacemaker. At the time, Collider's sources said James Gunn wanted Dave Bautista for Peacemaker. Then Variety said Bautista had to pass due to his busy schedule, and that's how John Cena's name got involved for Peacemaker.

At that time of Collider's initial report, Idris Elba was still expected to replace Will Smith as Deadshot. As we know, things changed since then and now Elba is playing a different mystery character. The Suicide Squad was initially thought to be a "total reboot" -- since that's what producer Peter Safran said -- and then Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, and Viola Davis were reported to be returning as Harley Quinn, Rick Flag, Captain Boomerang, and Amanda Waller. James Gunn wouldn't clarify whether his movie was a reboot or a sequel to Suicide Squad, since it sounds like those terms are too simplistic for his plan.

Reports came out that David Dastmalchian was cast as Polka-Dot Man, with Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher. In May, TheWrap reported that Michael Rooker would re-team with his Guardians of the Galaxy director for The Suicide Squad in the role of King Shark. However, Rooker seemed to dispute that report with a caption of "DA...........NOT!!!"

That left fans questioning whether King Shark would even be in The Suicide Squad, since there had been so many back-and-forth reports about the actors and characters. However, James Gunn has gone out of his way to keep King Shark in the conversation. In early August, he showed off the King Shark birthday cake he was given given at The Suicide Squad production offices:

And just the other day, James Gunn posted about a King Shark-ade game Microsoft gave The Suicide Squad staff during production.

Lucky production team! James Gunn doesn't just post about every DC or Suicide Squad member, so I'm reading these as hints that King Shark may be a big deal in his movie.

If John Cena does play Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad, that could leave King Shark open for Dave Bautista. I'm not completely convinced Bautista wouldn't make time for a James Gunn movie after all of his post-Disney firing support. Or maybe Michael Rooker is King Shark and he was just trolling us. Could Idris Elba play King Shark or do you think they moved him from Deadshot to one of these other options?

James Gunn is not known to be shy on social media when it comes to answering fan questions or correcting rumors, but he may also want to preserve the surprise of what characters and stars WILL in fact be in his DC Comics movie.

It's probably fitting for The Suicide Squad to have so many question marks, since it's been a series of surprises every step of the way. David Ayer was going to direct a sequel to his Suicide Squad, and then that didn't work out. James Gunn later signed on to direct The Suicide Squad from his own script.

All we know is The Suicide Squad will have a "fucking phenomenal" villain, per Kevin Smith's gossip, "explosions and falling structures," per James Gunn himself, and maybe not Batman, although can we even say that definitively after what Gunn said here? I won't be shocked if Robert Pattinson makes an appearance. The Batman comes out in June 2021, two months before The Suicide Squad.

The Suicide Squad currently has a release date of August 6, 2021, so there's plenty of time to clarify who is playing what character. Plus, when actors start showing up to the set to film, we'll probably get some hints.

With Guardians of the Galaxy and The Walking Dead on his resume, Michael Rooker has been a part of some pretty prominent franchises. Now, he's on his way to adding another to the list as he's officially a part of yet another high-profile franchise. Rooker has joined the pilot for Amazon's The Dark Tower, in a role that, at this time, hasn't been revealed.

We do know who he won't be playing, as Sam Strike has been tapped to play gunslinger Roland Deschain, and Jasper Pääkkönen will portray Randall Flagg, a.k.a. The Man in Black. Rooker's announcement (which came from his official website) doesn't give any clues about what his role may be, but it did reveal the pilot is currently shooting the pilot on location in Croatia. Game of Thrones' Jerome Flynn is also involved, and his role is a mystery like Rooker's.

Amazon's The Dark Tower is set to tell the tale of the first encounter between Roland and The Man in Black, so it may be possible Michael Rooker and Flynn are playing entirely new characters. Rumors have circulated that the series will take place years before the events of the movie, which was heavily panned upon release by critics and audiences alike.

Which may be why The Dark Tower is said to be a series that seeks to be a more accurate adaptation of the books, which is always an easy way to gain author Stephen King's approval. Of course, this series shouldn't have that much trouble winning his acclaim, considering he's listed as a developer alongside The Walking Dead's Glen Mazzara and Star Trek: Discoery's Akiva Goldsman.

Michael Rooker appearing on television isn't exactly a rare thing, but he's certainly less of a presence on shows since his days as Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead. With that being said he did have a fleeting appearance in Season 3 of True Detective, which has been his sole appearance on television in 2019. He's had a couple more roles in film this year with parts in Bolden and Brightburn.

While it's unknown how major Michael Rooker's role in The Dark Tower will be, the maximum numbers he could appear in at the moment stands at 13. That's if he's appearing in every episode, and one would think that if he is, he's playing someone who is a pretty big deal.

Right now, popular internet speculation has some thinking Michael Rooker will play the role of Cort. Cort was one of Roland's instructors in his formative years training to be a gunslinger, and was particularly brutal. He's definitely the rough and tumble type similar to the types of characters Rooker is known for playing. Is this who we can expect to see him play, or is there another option?

Michael Rooker Reveals What Yondu Would Do Against Thanos

We can only sit and wait for more answers. CinemaBlend will keep an eye out for more on the series in the meantime, and continue to report on the latest and greatest television and movie news.

Warning: Spoilers for Brightburn are in play. If you haven’t seen the film yet, turn around before it’s too late, and come back once you’ve caught up.

When writers Brian and Mark Gunn’s Brightburn was first announced, it looked like a thrilling cross between Superman The Movie and The Omen was about to head our way. And sure enough, the David Yarovesky directed film played out just as we’d hoped it would, right down to its uber-bleak ending.

But there’s more to Brightburn’s finale than just what happened, as a mid-credits sequence opens the door to a wider world of havoc and mayhem. So we’d like to break down Brandon Bryer’s fate at the end of the film, and ask some questions about what it means and what the future could hold for Brightburn.

If you haven’t seen the film yet, this is your last chance to turn away before spoilers are in full effect. But if you’re ready to jump into the Brightburn fray, let’s start with talking about what the ending entailed.

The Ending To Brightburn

After an increasingly disturbing pattern of behavior, Brandon Bryer (Jackson A. Dunn) makes his full turn into becoming the superpowered villain he was seemingly always meant to be. Using his powers to intimidate and murder those who would try to make him answer for his deeds, Brandon eventually kills his parents.

He kill his father Kyle (David Denman) on what’s supposed to be a camping trip, but was secretly Kyle’s attempt at killing his son. Kyle tries to kill Brandon with a hunting rifle, but Brandon’s invulnerability sees him safe and sound. The son kills the father with his heat vision, and returns home just as his mother, Tori (Elizabeth Banks) accepts the fact that her adopted alien son is, in fact, evil.

Brandon returns home after Tori makes a call to Kyle, siding with him on the issue of their son’s villainy, which leads to Brandon’s greatest outburst. He destroys the family home, kills a couple of police officers, and eventually drops his mother from the sky after she tries to stab him with the only thing that could hurt him: the glass from the spaceship he crashed in.

Though he told his mother he wanted to do good, that’s no longer an option at the end of Brightburn, as we see Brandon Bryer wreck a commercial airliner to cover his tracks, and allow himself to go on to commit unspeakable acts. As the world starts to learn of his misdeeds, and his infamous reputation as a menacing force grows, he’s branded with a new name: Brightburn.

Could Brightburn Ever Become A Force For Good?

With Brandon becoming the all punishing villain at the heart of Brightburn’s super-powered universe, there’s still a question of whether he could become a force for good. As a young child, he’s still kind of in that phase where he doesn’t want anyone to tell him what to do, and seeing as he has the ability to use Superman-like powers with a moral code similar to Damien from The Omen, it’s a question that could pan out either way.

On one hand, Brandon could find himself mentored by someone down the road who could keep him in check. Maybe someone else out there will give him the patience and time that it needs to reform a child of his temperament, and humanity could be spared.

Then again, even Tori, his own mother, eventually turned to trying to kill her baby boy. So if your own mother tries to take you out, your position on your adopted species might be a little less than optimal.

It could be hard, but there’s always a slim possibility that Brandon/Brightburn could run into someone else that would change his worldview; but it all depends on how long he holds onto his superiority complex, and how long it’s allowed to grow unchecked by parental or societal figures.

Is There Really A Team Of Super Powered Villains/Heroes In The Brightburn Universe?

During the mid-credits sequence that sees Brightburn’s world turned upside-down by his heel turn, there’s a familiar face spouting conspiracy theories on the internet. He’s credited as a character known as “The Big T,” as played by Gunn family friend Michael Rooker. And in what looks like a rant in full-on meltdown mode, The Big T theorizes that Brandon might not be the only super in the Brightburn universe.

We see a quick glimpse of six supposedly super-powered menaces, and The Big T warns the audience that if they aren’t quickly dealt with, the world could be overtaken by them. While this feels like a natural setup for another entry in the Brightburn universe, there are two things that make this feel like this small moment is an extra bit of seasoning for this mid-credit roll.

First, one of the heroes in the six figure lineup happens to be Rainn Wilson’s Frank Darbo/Crimson Bolt from director James Gunn’s movie Super. While that movie set up its own problems for its central hero, having actual super powers and/or invulnerability was never in the cards. And seeing as he kind of owns the diner in the Brightburn universe, we’re not so sure he’s using that location as a hero base of sorts.

But the second, and more doubtful, proposition is the fact that Michael Rooker’s Big T comes off as an Alex Jones/InfoWars type personality, who really likes a conspiracy theory, but doesn’t provide a lot of evidence to support it. This isn’t a wholesale write-off of there being more supers in Brandon Bryer’s world, but until we see hard proof, we’re going to say that there’s no superteam awaiting the future of Brightburn. But it’d be kind of cool if there eventually was.

Where A Potential Brightburn Series Could Go From Here

There are several distinct paths that the Brightburn series could take from this point. The first of which is a possible super-villain team lead by Brandon Bryer. With Jackson A. Dunn’s ultimate bad seed being a creature of unknown planetary origin, there’s always a possibility that more like him are on this planet, waiting for a leader.

Of course, if Brian and Mark Gunn really wanted to go full Omen with their potential scripts for Brightburn sequels, we’d see Brandon wrestle with the quandary of being good versus being bad, ultimately siding fully and firmly on the villain’s side of the fence and trying to seize ultimate power. Which honestly, isn’t a bad option at all, because it’d be compelling to see a supervillain’s rise to power.

Ultimately, there’s no real limit to where Brightburn could go. The real question is which path the audience, and the creative team behind any hypothetical sequel, would find more rewarding. In which case, continuing the hybridization of The Omen and Superman franchises might be the best option; with the possibility of Brandon being adopted by a Lex Luthor-esque figure offering a hell of a sequel premise.

Seeing another Brightburn film would be a real reward, as this homage to two of director Richard Donner’s best films is a thrilling surprise at the summer box office. But it can’t remain a surprise if it wants to ever see another installment. Audiences attendance will be the key to whether or not Brandon Bryer’s story continues, and with Brightburn currently in theaters, we’ll have to wait to see if this evil is vanquished into cinematic obscurity, or allowed to flourish into something more menacing.

Welcome to HeroBlend #55! This week, Eric and Adrienne will rank the MCU movies from the past 11 years, look ahead to what we can expect from superhero movies during the rest of 2019, and debate one of the biggest questions of our time: whether or not Hobbs & Shaw is actually a superhero film! First, though, we've got news! We'll be going over Avengers: Endgame box office updates, including the film that might unseat it this weekend, the first full trailers for Batwoman and Swamp Thing, the deal with Michael Rooker and The Suicide Squad, the director who turned down Aquaman, James Gunn's first interview after being fired / re-hired by Disney and a lot more!

Next up, now that we've gotten a look at Endgame, and have 22 MCU films under our belts, it's time to go over all of them and decide where each movie lands in the ranking. CinemaBlend staff took a poll to see where we, overall, place all the films in this massive shared universe and we'll let you in on CinemaBlend's group Top 5, then reveal each of our personal rankings for the Top 5 MCU movies. Also, if you head here, you'll be able to take the poll yourself and contribute to our HeroBlend listener / CinemaBlend reader rankings, which we'll talk about in the next podcast!

Lastly, we'll get to the good stuff: what's yet to come in superhero movies for the year. It would be easy to think that no other superhero films would dare compete with Endgame in 2019, but we do have some solid (and more than solid) options left. We will go over all of those, in order, and also debate whether or not Hobbs & Shaw can count as a superhero movie. Now, sit back and relax, folks, because this is one chat you're not going to want to miss. Ready to dive in? Great! Listen for yourself above!

1:00 - News

30:14 - Ranking The MCU Movies

48:13 - What's Coming Up For Superhero Movies In 2019, plus Hobbs & Shaw

Now, get in on the superhero-filled fun and have a listen to the HeroBlend Podcast #55! And, be sure to subscribe to the HeroBlend Podcast on iTunes, right here, follow us on Twitter @HeroBlend and follow our hosts @eeisenberg and @HeyAJ7.

Last week, news broke that Michael Rooker (of Yondu fame) was in talks to play King Shark in Suicide Squad 2 a.k.a. The Suicide Squad. It was an exciting possibility that would see the actor reunite with his Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn. However, it looks as though Michael Rooker will not, in fact, be playing King Shark in Suicide Squad 2 as the actor recently took to social media to refute the report. Take a look:

Well, that certainly seems to be a pretty clear statement from Michael Rooker. By screenshotting the original report and captioning it as he did on his Instagram, Michael Rooker is essentially declaring that it is inaccurate and he is not in talks to play King Shark in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. So, if anyone was working on some fan art for this casting, you may want to pump the brakes.

Now, it is worth asking some questions about what this refutation could mean, because from Slither to Super to the Guardians of the Galaxy films, Michael Rooker has acted in every feature film James Gunn has directed. Therefore, it would make sense for him to join the director once again for The Suicide Squad to keep that streak going.

Also, the original report about Michael Rooker being in talks to play King Shark in The Suicide Squad didn’t come from some random person on Reddit, it came from a legitimate publication. In addition, there was an earlier report that King Shark would indeed be one of the members of the new team in the film. So what gives?

It could just be the The Wrap got it wrong (it happens) and Michael Rooker is, as he indicated, not in talks to play King Shark in the film or maybe that talks fell apart. It’s also possible that Michael Rooker is fibbing, as we’ve seemingly seen recently with Matt Smith regarding Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Or, given their working relationship, Michael Rooker is reuniting with James Gunn for The Suicide Squad, but King Shark is not the character he will be playing. David Dastmalchian is reportedly cast as Polka-Dot Man and Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher, and Idris Elba as not Deadshot, but there are presumably other characters Michael Rooker could take on in the movie.

At this point, given his fairly unambiguous social media response to news of his casting, I just wouldn’t expect Michael Rooker to play the humanoid shark in The Suicide Squad. The sequel, which has been described as something of a relaunch with only a handful of the original actors/characters returning is currently in pre-production so hopefully we’ll hear some more casting soon.

The Suicide Squad, with or without Michael Rooker, is scheduled to arrive in theaters on August 6, 2021. That’s a ways off, though, and you need to be entertained until then, so check out our 2019 release schedule to see all the movies you’ll want to check out this summer.

James Gunn and Michael Rooker have already worked together once in the superhero realm through the first two Guardians of the Galaxy movies. While Rooker’s time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is over, now that Gunn is also lending his talents to the DC Extended Universe, it’s looking like these two might get to reunite in Suicide Squad 2, a.k.a. The Suicide Squad.

According to The Wrap, Michael Rooker is currently in talks to play King Shark in Suicide Squad 2. He’s been a part of the officially-designated Task Force X in recent years, particularly during the New 52 era, and it was reported last week that he’s one of the characters that will make up the team when it returns to the big screen.

Introduced in 1994’s Superboy #0, King Shark, a.k.a. Nanaue, is said to be the son of the Shark God, and he flip-flops between being a straight-up super villain and a tragic anti-hero. His abilities include superhuman physical attributes across the board, breathing underwater, enhanced senses, a regenerative healing factor and, of course, razor-sharp teeth.

Outside of the comics, King Shark’s most prominent appearance has been on The Flash, where he was originally a marine biologist named Shay Lamden who was transformed by the particle accelerator explosion on Earth-2. King Shark has also popped up in DC Super Hero Girls, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and Batman: Assault on Arkham. He was originally supposed to appear in 2016’s Suicide Squad, but he was eventually replaced by Killer Croc.

Joining Suicide Squad 2 would allow Michael Rooker to keep up his streak of acting in all the movies James Gunn has directed. Along with his time as Yondu, Rooker is also well-known for playing Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead, and his recent projects include appearing two episodes of True Detective and starring in the upcoming Fantasy Island movie from Blumhouse.

Although it was initially described as a ‘total reboot,’ Suicide Squad 2 will still be tied to the previous Suicide Squad movie, as evidenced by the return of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang and Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller. However, the better term for this movie is ‘relaunch,’ as it will mostly feature a brand-new cast of characters.

Assuming Michael Rooker finalizes a deal for Suicide Squad 2, he would join Idris Elba, David Dastmalchian and Daniela Melchior as one of the new faces. Elba was originally supposed to replace Will Smith as Deadshot, but he’ll now play a new character, while Dastmalchian and Melchior have been tapped to play Polka-Dot Man and Ratcatcher, respectively. John Cena is also being eyed to portray Peacemaker.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for word on if Michael Rooker does indeed join Suicide Squad 2, as well as any other major updates on the project. If you’re curious about what other DC movies are currently in development, look through our handy guide.

One of the biggest releases this month is Mary Poppins Returns, the long-awaited sequel to the classic Disney film. Mary Poppins is one of Disney's most iconic films, so we have to wonder how one movie theater ended up putting a blue alien on the sequel's banner. Yep, a theater in Pakistan put Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy on a promotion for Mary Poppins Returns on its website.

from r/marvelstudios

This must seem awfully random to you if you've never seen Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The blue guy is Yondu, an alien mercenary from the MCU films. Yondu has the ability to mentally command an indestructible arrow. In the sequel, Yondu grasps the arrow and uses it to float down gently to the ground, vaguely resembling Mary Poppins floating with her umbrella.

Star-Lord, who grew up on Earth, jokes about that comparison. Yondu, who has no idea who Mary Poppins is, asks if he's cool. Wanting to make his friend feel good, Star-Lord says Mary Poppins is the coolest, to which Yondu loudly proclaims to everyone, "I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!"

It was probably the most widely shared joke from the sequel. Fans had tons of fun making art and replacing Mary Poppins with Yondu in posters and trailers. Now, it seems like one of these internet jokes has made its way to a real movie theater's website.

Nueplex is a movie theater in Pakistan. As pointed out by a Reddit user, the theater's website uses a photo that includes Emily Blunt and Michael Rooker's Yondu in a front-page promotion for Mary Poppins Returns. After a quick investigation, I found Nueplex's website and it is indeed real.

So, what's going on here, right? Is the theater fully aware that this is a joke and it's just trolling people? Is the web guy just having a laugh and his bosses have no idea? Is it just a genuine mistake and the theater thought this blue man fit right in with a magical nanny? Either way, it's funny.

Of course, it wouldn't be the first time someone had fun with Yondu and Mary Poppins Returns. You may have seen the Mary Poppins Returns trailer redone with Yondu. And Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn shared a fake magazine cover with Yondu replacing Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins. So it would make sense if this theater was just knowingly continuing the joke, whether all theater patrons get that joke or not.

Yondu's days in the MCU are over, but Mary Poppins' big return may just be getting started. After some mild to positive reviews, the film has earned over $100 million worldwide and showing signs that it has some good legs. The film is currently out in theaters right now. Sadly, Yondu (or Michael Rooker) is not in it, but please don't let that discourage you from seeing the feel-good sequel.

Actor Michael Rooker and director James Gunn have developed a close relationship, both professionally and personally, over more than a decade, with their most well-known work together being Guardians of the Galaxy. So naturally some fans have been curious about Rooker's take on Marvel Studios firing Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 this past summer, and this weekend, he finally gave it, saying:

It's worth noting that it hasn't been confirmed yet that James Gunn will direct Suicide Squad 2 for Warner Bros and DC. Right now, all he's set for is penning the new script. Regardless, leaping from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies to Task Force X's is a huge rebound, and while Michael Rooker made it clear that it was a shame that Gunn was forced off Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the Yondu performer also noted during his appearance at Walker Stalker Con in Atlanta, Georgia over the weekend (via Comicbook.com) that he's glad that Gunn has found such a new, high-profile job so quickly.

This is yet another example of a Guardians of the Galaxy actor having James Gunn's back since he was fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Dave Bautista, a.k.a. the Marvel Cinematic Universe' Drax the Destroyer, has been especially vocal in his support for Gunn, and both Bautista and the rest of the main Guardians of the Galaxy cast signed a statement that said they wanted Gunn to be rehired days after his firing was announced. Rooker wasn't part of that statement since he made his MCU exit last year, but he's undoubtedly still considered part of that "family."

Michael Rooker (who made his onscreen debut in 1986 with Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer) first worked with James Gunn (whose credits beforehand included writing the Scooby-Doo movies and the Dawn of the Dead remake) on Slither, Gunn's first feature film directorial endeavor. Nearly a decade later, these two finally collaborated again in Guardians of the Galaxy. Rooker was hired to portray Yondu, leader of the Ravagers clan that kidnapped Peter Quill from Earth when he was a boy.

Although Yondu was supposed to deliver Peter Quill to his father, Ego, the space pirate reneged on that deal when he learned that the Living Planet had killed all the other children he'd sent Yondu to fetch. Yondu kept Peter around and became his adoptive "daddy," though he definitely wasn't great at showing affection.

Over two decades later, in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, Peter and Yondu found themselves on opposing sides in the quest to retrieve the Power Stone, although the Ravagers and the newly-former Guardians eventually teamed up to prevent Ronan the Accuser from destroying Xandar. By the end of the movie, while Yondu had been screwed out of the Power Stone by Peter, he was nonetheless amused this his "boy" had pulled one over on him.

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Yondu was overthrown as the Ravagers' leader after Taserface and the other mutineers grew tired from Yondu always protecting Peter Quill and the Guardians. Yondu ultimately escaped custody with Rocket Raccoon, Groot and Kraglin, and killed all the Ravagers who betrayed him and executed his supporters. The four of them then traveled to Ego to help out the Guardians, and in the end, Yondu sacrificed himself so that Peter could live.

While there are countless instances of comic book characters being brought back from the dead, in Yondu's case, James Gunn made it clear that his death was intended to be permanent so that it would be truly significant. That's not to say that Yondu still couldn't appear in flashbacks in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but if Gunn's wishes are honored, then don't expect to see the blue-skinned, knick-knack lover resurrected.

And speaking of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, that movie is currently on indefinite hold following James Gunn's firing. Disney confirmed in late August that it would not bring Gunn back onto the threequel, and now supposedly the search is on for his replacement. Originally Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was expected to come out in 2020, but now we might have to wait until 2022 for it to arrive (it's worth noting that Marvel recently gave up its July 31, 2020 release slot, which would have been a good date for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3).

As for Suicide Squad 2, all we officially know so far about that project is that James Gunn plans to deliver a "brand new take" on the team that was introduced to the DC Extended Universe back in 2016. While the first Suicide Squad movie didn't earn the greatest critical reception, it was a commercial hit with an over $746 million haul, and it even earned an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Before October, it looked like The Accountant's Gavin O'Connor was going to direct Suicide Squad 2, and Todd Stashwick was helping O'Connor with the script. But supposedly due to their story ending up being too similar to Birds of Prey, which has already been given the green light, O'Connor and Stashwick departed, allowing Gunn to step into the creative process.

It may be a while before we learn any details about James Gunn's vision for Suicide Squad 2, but as mentioned earlier, it's impressive that he was not only able to bounce back after the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 mess, but on a movie hailing from Marvel's Distinguished Competition. And who knows, maybe Gunn and Michael Rooker will be able to collaborate again if the former has a role in mind for the latter.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the latest updates concerning the Marvel and DC franchises. In the meantime, feel free to plan your trips to the movie theater next year by looking through our 2018 and 2019 release schedules.

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Infinity War and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been on a hot streak with Phase Three, as every single blockbuster has been a financial and critical success. But the entire MCU got flipped on its head with Avengers: Infinity War, when Josh Brolin's Thanos finally arrived to bring chaos and destruction upon our favorite characters. In the end he was victorious, as not even the combined powers of The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy was enough to defeat the big purple guy once he started accruing Infinity Stones. MCU favorites like Hayley Atwell have spoken about what their characters would have used against Thanos, and now Michael Rooker has revealed how his dearly departed Yondu would have handled it, saying:

Well, that was honest. While Yondu ended up being a heroic figure by the end of his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he's hardly Captain America amounts of selfless. Seeing Gamora and Nebula's father in the flesh and with a slew of new abilities is not something the blue guy would appreciate. Although one has to wonder if the "you should have aimed for the head" thing could have been avoided with Yondu's arrow.

While Thanos may have been easier to kill during his first scenes with the Asgardians, he ended up becoming more indestructible with each Infinity Stone that he collected. By the time the final battle in Wakanda happened, Thanos was able to go back in time, destroy moons, and alter reality. It's due to this that the MCU's finest heroes weren't enough, as they came close to taking him down three times throughout the course of Infinity War. So while Yondu could have been used, Michael Rooker's comments to Q&A panel at Fandemic Tour Sacramento (via Comic Book) make a great deal of sense.

Of course, simply running away wouldn't save half the galaxy from ultimately being destroyed. Once Thanos collected the final stone from Vision's forehead, he was able to wipe out mass numbers with the snap of his finger. Fans were left to watch in horror as their favorites faded away into dust, perhaps the most tragic moment of the MCU to date. The previous record holder was probably Yondu himself, whose death in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 brought tears to the eyes of many, including Kevin Smith.

Considering Thanos' finger snap, fans are wondering how the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise will continue without any members besides Rocket. James Gunn previously revealed it will be set after the events of Infinity War, so it's unclear how that'll all work out. It's just too bad there's no hope for Yondu to return from the dead as well.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is streaming on Netflix now, and the next installment in the MCU will be Ant-Man and The Wasp on July 6, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Few deaths in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have hit us harder than the demise of Michael Rooker's Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. He was a fan-favorite villain/anti-hero, and his loss was a massive blow to Peter Quill leading up to Avengers: Infinity War. His absence from the impending war also raises the question of how Yondu could've helped in the looming battle against Thanos, and Rooker seems to think that his Yaka Arrow would've been a big help. During an appearance at Awesome Con in Washington D.C. over the weekend, Rooker explained:

It's no secret that Yondu had a knack for fight dirty when he was alive. The guy's Yaka Arrow has become known as one of the most powerful weapons in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Rooker claimed that he would use that to his advantage to take Thanos by surprise and nail The Mad Titan when he wasn't looking. Spoken like a true Ravager, right?

We should also take a second to note that the Yaka Arrow could still technically play a role in the fight against Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. Though Yondu died during the events of the most recent Guardians of the Galaxy film, he also bequeathed his Yaka Arrow to Sean Gunn's Kraglin by the end of the movie. The weapon still exists in the MCU, so it could play a role in the epic showdown in the same way that the Iron Man armor and Thor's potential new hammer will.

That said, Kraglin would need to perfect his use of it. As you can see from the following clip, the ending of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 shows that he still needs plenty of practice.

Of course, Michael Rooker is no fool, and he made a point to acknowledge the fact that Thanos will have plenty of power of his own when he finally takes center stage in Avengers: Infinity War. Continuing his comments during his Awesome Con appearance (via Comicbook.com), Rooker addressed the looming threat of Thanos' Infinity Stones and said:

We will get to see the awesome power of the Infinity Gauntlet in full force when Avengers: Infinity War debuts in theaters later this month on April 27.

There are few TV shows as massively popular as AMC's The Walking Dead. The apocalyptic drama has accrued a large and rabid fanbase, allowing TWD actors to quickly rise in notoriety and nab some high profile jobs. One actor who has gotten significantly more famous since his tenure on the show is Michael Rooker, who played Merle Dixon in Season 3, after originally appearing in the show's second episode. And while Rooker has gained notoriety for his roles in James Gunn's various projects, especially Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, it turns out he almost missed out on the role of Merle. And it all has to do with a grudge held against him for dropping out of a project over a decade before. Rooker recently opened up about this ordeal, saying:

I guess it's true what they say: you shouldn't burn bridges in show business. Because while Michael Rooker dropped out of a project almost 20 years ago, it eventually came back to bite him in the ass. Luckily the casting associated reconsidered, and his performance as Merle was pretty unbelievable.

It's currently unclear which movie or TV show caused this grudge for Michael Rooker, but definitely a blessing that he managed to work past it and land the role of Merle Dixon. The early seasons of The Walking Dead just wouldn't have been the same without him. In his same appearance at NY Comic-Con (via Comic Book), Rooker described how he eventually was given forgiveness, and also given the role.

Sometimes all it takes is an apology. Michael Rooker's worked, and now he's bonafide TWD and MCU royalty.

The Walking Dead will return for Season 8 October 22nd on AMC. In the meantime, check out our fall premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

Michael Rooker's Yondu has been one of the highlights of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. It's clear that he loves the role too, because apparently he just dresses up like that when he's visiting the office. Rooker recently visited the offices of Marvel Studios while going the full Yondu. He wanders the halls for nearly half an hour just chatting with the people he comes across and generally having a good time. It's worth checking out the whole thing if you've got the time. Give it a look.

The video was part of a live stream that Michael Rooker did visiting Marvel dressed as his character from Guardians of the Galaxy, while an unidentified Marvel person helped him film while dressed as Spider-Man. Nobody at Marvel seems too shocked to see Yondu walk by their cubicle, so it may not have been quite as impromptu an event as it is made to appear. Of course, this is Marvel, and weird stuff probably happens there on a fairly regular basis. Rooker wanders all throughout the building meeting numerous employees, introducing himself, and getting to learn little bits here and there about what goes on in the building.

Marvel offices look more or less like any other. Cubicle farms as far as the eye can see unless you're lucky enough to warrant an office. I'm not sure what else I would have expected, but you sort of think that Marvel wouldn't look just like offices that I've worked doing much more boring jobs. The decorations are certainly nice though. Everywhere you look there is Marvel related art on the walls, everything from vinyl wraps showing MCU scenes to full-size replicas of Iron Man armor. It probably is a bit different job when you walk past an Iron Man suit on your way to lunch every day.up.

Why exactly was Michael Rooker wanding an office building in full makeup? It's not entirely clear. There are a pair of potential answers. At one point he tells an employee that he was filming something secret. It would certainly explain the makeup, but what exactly would he have been filming? While we're sure there will always be ancillary things that Rooker will need to film for Marvel, he is part of the MCU forever, even if his character won't be a major part of it going forward, but it's also possible that he was making a joke about filming. The other item is that this was all done as a promotion of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Blu-Ray release. At one point on the video, he comes across a copy of the disc and goes into full pitch mode. While he plays it off as a joke, it's also clear that he knows the pitch, so that might actually be the ultimate reason.

Whatever the purpose, it was truly a blast to see everybody having a good time. Yondu will be missed.

Spoilers ahead for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

Although it was released months ago, comic book fans can't stop talking about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Jame Gunn's triumphant sequel helped to explore the psyche of the titular team, while helping to bridge the gap between the first film and their eventual appearance years later in Avengers: Infinity War. One character who got a ton of screen time the second time around was Michael Rooker's Yondu. The antihero also received perhaps the most heartbreaking death scene in the entire MCU, although it turns out that Rooker was snoring onset when he was supposed to be playing a dead body. And now we know a little bit more about why that blooper happened.

TMZ managed to catch up with Michael Rooker at the airport (of course), where they asked him about the snoring blooper. Rooker said,

It looks like trying to relax his body made Michael Rooker a bit vulnerable to a sudden nap. It brings a whole new meeting to "I'll sleep when I'm dead".

While casual audiences might think that Michael Rooker's on set snooze was a bit unprofessional, those in the film business have always maintained that sets are notoriously boring places. Actors spend a great deal of time in holding as shots are set up, and they usually have to do a ton of takes for important scenes. Star-Lord's monologue about Yondu was a heartbreaking moment, so it makes sense that the scene took so long to film. And if all you have to do is lay down with your eyes closed, I think you'd have a Rooker-esque nap as well.

The blooper in question was released when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 became available for home purchase. And James Gunn posted it himself on Facebook, check it out.

Pretty hilarious, right?

I just can't get enough of the cast's reaction to Michael Rooker's snoring. While Chris Pratt attempted to get through his monologue and ignore the sounds, Dave Bautista wasn't quite as strong. While the crew reset for another take, you can see Bautista tell a crew member about the snoring. Things get even more embarrassing when Pom Klementieff and Zoe Saldana join the scene as well, all while a blue clad Rooker snores.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is currently available for home purchase and the Guardians will return to the MCU in Avengers: Infinity War this May. In the meantime, check out our 2017 release list to plan your net trip to the movies.

The following story contains real spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. For real, stop reading now if you haven't seen the film yet. We're about to discuss a pivotal scene.

Superhero movies are very exciting. James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, for example, was wall-to-wall adventure, with some cosmic thrills mixed in for good measure. MAKING a superhero movie, however, triggers a lot of down time. And when it came time for Michael Rooker to help his cast mates film the funeral scene for his recently deceased character, Yondu, the actor admits in a new interview that he fell fast asleep while laying on the table. Rooker says:

Michael Rooker was chatting with Yahoo Movies about the final scenes of James Gunn's summer blockbuster, and was asked what his last days on the set were like. As you know, the last moments of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 involved a Ravager funeral for Yondu, who sacrificed himself so that his "adopted" son, Peter (Chris Pratt), could wear their lone spacesuit and survive. In an interview, Rooker says he doesn't remember anything about the scene, and co-star Karen Gillan (who plays Nebula) laughs and explains that this is because Rooker fell asleep, and could be heard snoring from the other side of the room. This forces Rooker to reveal that because he had things over his eyes -- standing in for ceremonial funeral garb -- he took the opportunity to snooze. I can't blame him.

Listen to Michael Rooker tell the tale by clicking over here to Yahoo's site.

The Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel's (so far) only space-based team of superheroes, fended off a real challenge from Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell) in their second adventure. They'll next prepare to assist the Avengers -- and the rest of the stragglers in the MCU -- when the mighty Thanos arrives on Earth in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War. Providing they survive that encounter, the team will reconvene for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which James Gunn has said that he's already working on. He also said that it will be the culmination of the story arc that he started with this core team of Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (the voice of Vin Diesel) and Rocket (the voice of Bradley Cooper).

And now that the narcoleptic Michael Rooker isn't around to mess up takes, we're expecting a smoother shoot from here on out for the Guardians!

Our Upcoming Marvel Movies feature has everything that you need to know about the next few Marvel movies, so visit it today and make sure that you are up to date.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2! Read ahead at your own risk!

Although it was one of the funniest comic book movies of the summer (if not of all time), James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 also managed to pull on our heartstrings in a few key sequences. As many of you already know, some of the worst offenders of the bunch are Yondu's death and funeral scene -- which sees The Guardians and The Ravagers pay their respects to the fallen leader. The moment pretty much hits every imaginable emotional beat, and it apparently can even make Kevin Smith ugly cry. Check out the professional geek's video below to see for yourself.

Kevin Smith has always been vocal about his willingness to cry during emotional scenes in superhero blockbusters, but this one is different. He's not just crying because he feels the emotional toll of Yondu's death. He's also crying because he has a personal and professional connection to Michael Rooker as an actor -- having cast him in Mallrats back in the 1990s. Rooker has experienced an insane resurgence in popularity over the course of the last few years (first with his role as Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead, and then in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), so to see him deliver an (in Smith's opinion) Oscar-worthy performance must be a pretty amazing sight.

It obviously doesn't hurt that Yondu's death and funeral were handled beautifully by the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 crew. James Gunn clearly understood the weight of this particular character when he set out to make the Guardians sequel, and in many ways, one could even argue that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is Yondu's story. In his final moments, we see him become the father to Peter Quill that he always wanted to be, and his funeral caps off the film by reminding us of the goodness and honor that always lurked beneath the surface. It's hard not to agree with your video, Mr. Smith; we all cried, too.

Of course, it's always possible that we could potentially see Yondu again someday -- albeit in a flashback or hallucination capacity. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 marks the chronological end for the Ravager badass as a character, but the MCU has never shied away from bringing back dead characters to make appearances in period pieces or dream sequences. With Captain Marvel currently gearing up to give us an entire film set in the 1990s, there's no reason not to assume that Yondu could potentially show up in a future Guardians of the Galaxy movie that might not even take place after the events of Vol. 2.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is currently available on Digital HD, and the Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K editions of the film will hit shelves later this month on August 22. As for the future of this cosmic team of superheroes, The Guardians will make their next appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when they face off against Thanos in The Avengers: Infinity War on May 4, 2018.

Warning: MAJOR spoilers ahead for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2! Don't read any further if you haven't seen James Gunn's latest Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure!

James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was unique for plenty of reasons. It featured an odd, cosmic setting, it starred a cast of ridiculously colorful characters and (perhaps most importantly) it featured the death of a major, fan-favorite character when Yondu sacrificed himself to save Chris Pratt's Star-Lord. That loss had a massive impact on fans all over the world, and Yondu actor Michael Rooker recently sat down with CinemaBlend at San Diego Comic-Con to explain that his on-screen demise has an authentic weight for him, because grief is part of real life. Rooker explained:

As one of the first truly significant deaths in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Yondu's passing has sparked a massive debate among fans. Is it happy, or is it sad? Even a Guardians insider like Sean Gunn has asserted that his choice to die and save Peter doesn't necessarily read as a somber moment, but as a moment of triumph because he teaches a valuable lesson to Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and brings the team together. However, Michael Rooker doesn't necessarily see it that way, noting that death (in any of its forms) carries a weight to it that cannot be ignored -- even if the dramatic payoff of that death eventually feels worth it in the end. He is going to mourn Yondu for quite some time, just like the rest of us.

Check out a clip from our interview with Michael Rooker below to see what he specifically had to say about the death of Yondu.

We just hope that Peter Quill and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy manage to get most of that mourning and grieving out of the way before they find themselves called into action for their most important (and potentially deadly) mission yet. The first teaser trailer for The Avengers: Infinity War revealed that the Guardians will eventually encounter Thor Odinson floating in space (seemingly sometime after Thor: Ragnarok), and that meeting will lead them to Earth to fight Thanos (Josh Brolin) and the Black Order alongside the rest of the Avengers roster. Yondu's untimely demise will undoubtedly still weigh on all of them, but more important matters are just over the horizon.

The Guardians of the Galaxy will join the rest of Earth's mightiest heroes when The Avengers: Infinity War blasts its way into theaters next year on May 4, 2018. If you're looking for more information on the next Avengers film, here's everything that we currently know about the upcoming Marvel epic!

Spoilers for the movies Michael Rooker has shot with James Gunn are throughout this article. Especially if you haven't watched Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 or The Belko Experiment, yet, this may not be the article for you.

Michael Rooker has always played a fan-favorite character in the Guardians of the Galaxy universe, but in Vol. 2 he amped things up a notch, delivering lines like, "I'm Mary Poppins, y'all" and giving us an emotional arc to connect with. His character Yondu notably died in the new Guardians movie just as Peter Quill was finally realizing Yondu was his true parent. And while director James Gunn does seem rather fond of killing Michael Rooker off in his movies, the actor recently told CinemaBlend's Sean O'Connell exactly which death was his favorite in a James Gunn movie. He named The Belko Experiment as his pick.

If you've seen The Belko Experiment, then you already know that Michael Rooker's character does die, yet again in a James Gunn movie. (Although we should point out this one was just written by James Gunn and directed by Greg McLean.) In the flick, Rooker's character Bud was trying to calm his friend down. His maintenance pal ended up freaking out and taking a metal pipe to his head, creating the "dent" feature Michael Rooker is talking about above.

So where did the idea for this epic death sequence come from? Of course, Michael Rooker himself. He also told us at Comic-Con that the idea came from a car accident he had.

James Gunn certainly does know how to kill off Michael Rooker. (More death spoilers, obviously.) He did it in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and The Belko Experiment. The actor also died in Slither and again in Super. Of course, a more famous death of Michael Rooker's was when Merle Dixon died on The Walking Dead and that one certainly wasn't James Gunn's fault. Still, I think it's safe to say that James Gunn enjoys finding new and intriguing ways to kill off Michael Rooker in his movies. Perhaps it keeps happening because Michael Rooker seems to really take the news well.

I've personally never seen an actor so excited while talking about a scene where he gets killed off, and you too can check out our interview clip, below.

As for whether or not Yondu could ever show up in a flashback or a prequel in a Marvel movie, we still don't know, but Michael Rooker also noted he would be game in the event that he is asked. In the meantime, let's hope he pops up in--and especially gets killed off in--future James Gunn projects.

The following story contains spoilers for James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. If you haven't seen the sequel yet, click away, and visit one of our other articles!

Marvel's Cinematic Universe kicked off the Summer movie season with a melodramatic bang, as they gave Michael Rooker's surrogate father figure, Yondu, a ceremonial sendoff into that great Ravager heaven in the sky. Yondu died saving his adopted son, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), in a heroic effort to protect Star-Lord from his real father, Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell). So Yondu is no longer in the MCU. And when we had an opportunity to interview Michael Rooker at San Diego Comic-Con on behalf of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we asked him what he'd miss the most about working on these films. He told us:

The thing about your time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that you're never really TRULY done. Villains have been eliminated, but they find a way to return. And beloved characters like Yondu absolutely COULD find a way to come back... if director James Gunn could find a creative (and credible) way to have him return.

James Gunn is busy working on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 already, and he has been saying that it will be a sequel that concludes current storyline for this iteration of the Guardians -- which includes Star-Lord (Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), Drax (Dave Bautista) and Groot (the voice of Vin Diesel). Peter Quill expects to be dealing with the loss of Yondu, who he'd just accepted as his "daddy," so Rooker could reprise his role in a flashback, or a guiding angel character Quill sees. We're spitballing, mainly because we love Rooker in the role.

Listen to him talk about what he'll miss the most, now that his time in the MCU has reportedly come to an end.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues later this year with Thor: Ragnarok, which will continue to explore the cosmic side of this galaxy. And then, as we have seen in the Avengers: Infinity War trailer, Thor will meet up with the Guardians of the Galaxy to kick start that particular adventure. Yondu will not be present. How do you guys feel about that?

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 reaches Digital HD on August 8, and Blu-ray/4K on August 22. Grab a copy now!

An actor who has seen it all and done it all, Michael Rooker is a veteran of just about every film and TV genre, so he is definitely used to how things go on a set. But back when he was starring on The Walking Dead as the sometimes villainous Merle Dixon, Rooker definitely was not used to having a rather large and bladed attachment jammed on the end of his right arm. And according to the actor, that almost led to a behind-the-scenes stabbing. In his words:

Michael Rooker sounds like the opposite of Holy Grail's Black Knight right there. "I didn't really stab him. It was just a flesh wound." Rooker memorably looked a little different when Merle returned to The Walking Dead in Season 3 after being completely absent since lopping off his own hand in Season 1. Not boasting a stump or anything of the sort, Merle instead turned his arm into half of a bayonet, giving him a pretty solid and quasi-cyborg look in this post-apocalyptic universe. He used it to his advantage on the show, too, but that likely came after he practiced not stabbing anyone in the wardrobe department.

Seriously, though, as legitimate as everything looks within the world of The Walking Dead, it would probably have been someone's first decision of the day to make sure that Merle's giant arm blade was not sharp enough to serve as the weapon in an accidental daylight murder. And that's an every-single-day kind of decision to make.

When speaking at Heroes & Villains Fan Fest (via MoviePilot) this past weekend, Michael Rooker did describe how he got used to having Merle's new arm-esque attachment on the set.

We're still mourning Merle's loss over here -- though not quite as noticeably as Daryl did -- and Michael Rooker's presence in any capacity is a great one. (He's even got solid ideas for how The Walking Dead should end.) But while Merle won't be involved in that universe at any point soon, the AMC hit will be back in front of audiences for Season 8 this October. Meanwhile, Rooker can currently be seen in Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, currently in theaters. And if you need to figure out your primetime delights in the near future, head to our summer premiere schedule.

Minor spoilers ahead for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

Although it was released a few weeks ago, conversation regarding James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 have only continued to send the internet spinning. The 15th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe brought all of the humor and heart of the first Guardians film, while also expanding the franchise and its layered set of protagonists. One of these fascinating characters is Michael Rooker's Yondu, who was hilariously equated to Mary Poppins twice during the film's runtime. This has since broken the internet, with memes galore and even custom Funko Pops being created of Yondu with a magical umbrella and carpet bag.

One such meme was recently shared by James Gunn himself, who obviously finds the comparison between the two drastically different fictional characters hilarious. And when a fan suggested that Michael Rooker make a cameo in Disney's upcoming Mary Poppins Returns, Gunn seemed pretty enthusiastic. Check it out.

As you can see from the above Facebook interaction, James Gunn fully supports a Michael Rooker cameo in Mary Poppins Returns. And with both the fandom and Gunn on board, now we just have to convince the higher ups at the House of Mouse to put the Walking Dead alum in the project.

While Michael Rooker isn't the first actor you'd think to cast in a family friendly movie musical, both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Mary Poppins Returns are owned by Disney (along with basically every other major property). So Rooker's work with the studio on the Guardians of the Galaxy films may be strong enough that Disney decides to give Michael Rooker a quick cameo. Stranger things have happened.

Then again, Disney is already taking a major risk by producing Mary Poppins Returns in the first place. Giving the beloved 1964 classic new life is quite the gamble, especially since original stars Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke have obviously had to be replaced. Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda's performances will be looked at with magnifying glasses, as will the new set of musical numbers. So adding an obligatory Guardians of the Galaxy reference into an already challenging film project might not be the wisest move.

Then again, Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the MCU's most popular franchises, so anything is possible at this point. If nothing else, let's hope the House of Mouse will at least extend James Gunn and Michael Rooker an invitation to the premiere.

You can currently catch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in theaters, and Mary Poppins returns will arrive on December 25, 2018. In the meantime, check out our full 2017 premiere list and plan your next trip to the movies.

Apparently still riding high off of the success of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 at the box office (as well as its ability to thoroughly trounce any and all challengers), Michael Rooker recently decided to take a trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. While there he encountered a familiar face, and she was practically perfect in every way. That's right folks, Rooker came face to face with Mary Poppins, and the photo of the meeting is even better than you would imagine. Check it out below to see for yourself.

Warning: mild spoilers ahead for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Read ahead at your own risk! If that's not a perfect photo, then I don't know what is. By now most people already know that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is jam packed with hilarious moments and endlessly funny lines, but Yondu screaming "I'm Mary Poppins, y'all" easily stands out as a highlight of the film. It strikes a perfect comedic balance in the way that it comes out of nowhere, while also feeling beautifully in line with Yondu's complete obliviousness to human pop culture. The moment has already become iconic, and hilarious toys are even being made to commemorate it.

We need to enjoy everything that we can get from Michael Rooker right now because it seems doubtful that fans will see as much of him in future Marvel Cinematic Universe adventures. The Guardians sequel centers on Yondu's arc to become a hero and father that Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) never had as a kid, and his death perfectly punctuates his storyline. James Gunn has already made it clear that he would be willing to bring Yondu back in a flashback sequence, but as of right now Vol. 2 seems like the meatiest Yondu story that we're going to get.

Beyond how utterly awesome this picture is, it also has us wondering whether or not we will ever see Michael Rooker in a Mary Poppins movie. Mary Poppins Returns (which will star Emily Blunt as the titular nanny) is currently shooting for a 2018 release, which means there is still plenty of time to get Rooker in for a cameo. Both Guardians of the Galaxy and Mary Poppins are both owned by Disney, so the logistics of such a meeting wouldn't be terribly difficult to figure out. No such cameo has been hinted at by the studio just yet, but it's an idea that I'm personally routing for.

James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is now in theaters, and everyone's favorite nanny will make her way back to the silver screen when Mary Poppins Returns debuts on Christmas Day 2018. For more information concerning the rest of the films set to debut this year, make sure to take a glance at our 2017 movie premiere guide.