Marvel allegedly developing Guardians of the Galaxy 4 without one major character

With James Gunn’s time at Marvel Studios now over as he puts his full focus on building the new DC Universe in his role as Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DC Studios, the future of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise remains very much up in the air, shrouded in uncertainty. The third film was designed to be the closing film in Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the Guardians within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

The closing moments of the film featured two major teases that hinted more could be coming from the Guardians within the MCU. The first came with the tease of a new Guardians team assembling as Rocket, Groot, and Kraglin teamed up with Phyla, Adam Warlock, Blurp, and Cosmo hinting that the group could become the new Guardians lineup for future appearances. The second tease came in the form of a Marvel Studios mainstay, a title card that promised “Star-Lord will return.” 

These moments seemed to hint that the Guardians would be returning to the MCU and that seems to indeed be the plan… at least according to one insider. 

Guardians of the Galaxy 4 rumored to be in development 

Although Marvel has not officially announced plans for a fourth Guardians of the Galaxy film – one which we could only imagine would be titled Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4 – insider Rejected Scooper has reported that Marvel is currently developing another film in the franchise. According to the rumor from Rejected Scooper, Marvel Studios is eyeing a fourth Guardians of the Galaxy movie to be released after Avengers: Secret Wars. 

While there are no plot details connected to the rumor, the report goes on to allege that Marvel already has its eyes on the characters who would be a part of the potential fourth film. It’s an ensemble that is filled with notable characters from the franchise, including those whose returns were teased in the final sequence from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. 

Among the characters rumored to return are Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, Adam Warlock, Cosmo, Quasar, Blurb, and Star-Lord. These characters returning for a fourth film would make sense given all but Star-Lord were teased to have assembled to be a part of the new Guardians team while Star-Lord returning was promised by Marvel. 

What’s interesting is that the rumor also suggests that Nebula, Mantis, and Drax will also return which could be interesting given all three went off in very different directions at the end of the third film with Mantis leaving to embark on an adventure of self-discovery, Drax becoming the father to the star children, and leaving the team behind to remain on Knowhere.

Gamora is unlikely to return for Guardians of the Galaxy 4

While most of the Guardians of the Galaxy cast are rumored to return for a fourth film in the franchise, one actress who is not expected to return is Zoe Saldana. Saldana has been vocal in noting that she saw the third film in the franchise as Gamora’s final chapter within the MCU, hinting that she has no plans to return to the MCU. 

Couple Saldana’s comments with reports from insider Rejected Scooper who told followers they shouldn’t hold their breath on Gamora returning, noting that the actress has been vocal that she is not returning to the MCU. 

Given the Multiverse has been cracked wide open, there is always a chance Marvel could recast the role and have a Gamora variant appear in a potential fourth Guardians of the Galaxy movie. However, that doesn’t seem to be in the plans at the moment if rumors are to be believed.