Here's everything you need to know before seeing the latest addition to the MCU, including what the team's new mission is and why you should absolutely stick around after the credits.
Yondu (Michael Rooker) will be more ally than frenemy this time around, while Nebula (Karen Gillan) is apparently abandoning her father, Thanos, and throwing her lot in with the Guardians -- but not before clashing with sis, Gamora. (Nebula will not officially join forces with this "bunch of a-holes," and fans can expect her to go out on her own by the time the movie ends.)
Fans will also see one entirely new character seemingly join the roster. Mantis (Pom Klementieff) is an empath/psychic who just might give Drax a run for his money as the most socially-awkward member of the team.
Groot may be mobile again in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," but he's still a far cry from the giant tree monster he used to be. But that's okay, because all signs point to Baby Groot being the sequel's breakout character. The trailers alone make it clear that Groot is responsible for more comedy than ever, and based on the amount of Baby Groot-themed merchandise out there, Marvel clearly expects fans to fall in love with this tiny, squeaky-voiced incarnation of the character.
That mystery gets solved in "Vol. 2," as the team comes face to face with Star-Lord's pops, Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell). What the heck is a Living Planet, and why does it look an awful lot like Snake Plissken? You'll just have to watch the movie to find out. (And don't expect Ego to be a straight-up good guy. As family reunions ago, it's not one of the best.)
That means new alien races like the Sovereign, new beings like Ego, and plenty of other surprises along the way. Expect even more nerd-friendly cameos and Easter eggs this time around, including the debut of a new MCU character played by a certain Italian Stallion.
The first film featured two end-credits tags -- Baby Groot dancing FTW! Its sequel sets a record for the MCU, with five (!) -- one of which features our pal, Stan Lee. But none of the scenes set up or tease "Infinity War," at least not directly.
Find out what all five scenes have in store when "Guardians" hits theaters Friday.
