The Super Bowl trailers for DC Universe's The Flash and Marvel Cinematic Universe's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 were both released on February 13, with James Gunn credited as co-creator. Gunn has been one of the co-creators of the GOTG franchise since 2014, contributing to many of its successes over the last nine years.
This would be his final MCU film, as he is set to take part in future DC Universe projects. The latest trailer for the new GOTG film marks the end of the franchise and the bittersweet journey of the Galaxy Protectors.
In this trailer, the opening scene features Chris Pratt, who plays Peter Quill or Star-Lord, summarizing the events of the previous two Guardians of the Galaxy films.
Quill mentions his encounter with Gamora, his fellow Guardian member and love interest, and her unfortunate death. However, the time-displaced version of Gamora, who returned during Avengers: Endgame, appears to be unfriendly towards Quill.
The next scene shows the Guardians travelling in their new starship, Bowie, to confront the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) at his headquarters.
He goes on to be the antagonist of this film, as in the comics he is shown to be a villain who is obsessed with genetic manipulation to create a perfect society.
Rocket Racoon (played by Bradley Cooper) appears to have a history with him, as he was once a part of High Evolutionary's experiment, which explains his human-level intelligence.
Rocket is also seen finding a love interest in a genetically enhanced otter named Lyla. However, in the present, he warns his fellow Guardians of this new character's danger.
The later scenes show multiple glimpses of the Guardians in action and another new character seen in the past teasers, Adam Warlock, played by Will Poulter. His role is quite ambiguous in the trailer, as he fights everyone, including the Guardians.
In the Guardians' fight sequences, Drax tells the other Guardians that he is grateful to fight alongside them, Quill gives an emotional speech about how they found each other and became a family, and he asks for one last ride.
The scene of the spaceship Bowie streaking through space and Warlock's pursuit suggests it will be a spectacular ride.
The closing scene shows the Guardians walking through Knowhere, with Nebula holding Quill in her arms. Rocket's voiceover adds to the emotional atmosphere with his line, "We'll all fly away together. Into the forever...and beautiful sky."
The trailer then ends on a lighter note, with Gamora teasing her former self and Nebula violently objecting, a homage to the franchise's light-hearted nature.
The film is set to be released on May 5 of this year and already promises to be emotional. Will this be a perfect goodbye for the Guardians and James Gunn's journey with the MCU? Only time will tell.
