The third Guardians of the Galaxy movie features a grown Groot, who, however, didn't get back his Volume 1 look. So, why does Groot look different in Guardians of the Galaxy 3?
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How is Guardians of the Galaxy 3's Groot Different?
With the post-credit scene of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and the subsequent Marvel films featuring an adolescent Groot, many fans had expected the third volume's Groot to return to his original form.
However, the appearance of adult Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 has changed quite a bit.
Compared to the taller, slimmer Groot we first met, the version of him that we see in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 has a stockier build.
Moreover, his face isn't as elongated and he sports fewer wrinkles, most likely because he's still relatively young compared to his Volume 1 counterpart.
Some fans were already aware of the change, as this was also Groot's appearance in the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
However, those who missed that might have been unaware of the change until the release of Guardians of the Galaxy 3.
The Evolution of Groot
Guardians of the Galaxy is all about character development. But with Groot, character growth is treated quite literally.
The first movie details how the founding members of the Guardians met, but ends sadly, with Groot sacrificing himself to protect his new friends.
Fortunately, Rocket was able to salvage a small branch from which a new Groot could grow.
In Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Groot is a small child with the understanding of a toddler.
The post-credit scene and the subsequent Marvel media feature a pre-teen or adolescent Groot, leading to his current appearance in the Holiday Special and in Volume 3.
Why Does Groot Look Different in Guardians of the Galaxy 3?
There are several reasons why Groot looks different from his older, more slender Volume 1 counterpart. The new Groot is still younger, he's had a different life, and he isn't exactly the same person.
The current Groot is genetically similar to the original and both Groots' personalities are alike. That being said, he isn't the exact same character.
In that sense, the original Groot is to be thought of as the current Groot's parent, rather than as his past life.
Because of that, Groot's new appearance makes sense as a creative decision. It acknowledges the original Groot's sacrifice and individualizes the new Groot as his own character.
In a 2022 tweet regarding the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, director James Gunn shared a few thoughts regarding the change of Groot, often referred to as YA Groot or Swoll Groot in his current stage of growth.
But Groot didn't only evolve in terms of his appearance. At the end of Guardians of the Galaxy 3, he says a new sentence that broke fans' hearts.
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