Sean Gunn has retired as Rocket Raccoon

No doubt, Gunn had the tougher job as Rocket Raccoon compared to top-billed Bradley Cooper, who voiced the feisty yet misunderstood trash panda from the comfort of a recording booth, while Gunn taxed his cartilage over the course of three successful movies. “My knees are fine, but since I turned 50 a couple of years ago, I am retired from Rocket,” he told Davis. “Not that [Marvel has] called, but if they did, I don’t think I could do the motion reference for Rocket anymore. I’m too old.” While there are no announced plans for the Guardians’ future (Pratt says his status as Star-Lord remains “fluid”), Guardians Vol. 3 ended with Rocket Raccoon leading a new team, including Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock, Vin Diesel’s Groot, and, yes, Gunn’s other Guardians character, Kraglin. So while Gunn may be through playing Rocket, his days with Marvel may not yet be over.

And it’s not like Gunn is through with the cape-movie scene altogether. His role as Justice Gang benefactor Maxwell Lord could pop up sooner rather than later: There are rumors that Gunn will appear in the HBO Max series The People V. Gorilla Grodd, and there’s presumably still room for him in his director-brother‘s DC Studios sequel, Man Of Tomorrow. Gunn just better play it cool if he ever finds himself in a room with Ted Kord, is all we’re saying. 

You can watch Gunn’s comments in the video below, beginning at the 32:15 mark. Remember to stretch every day, people! You’ll thank yourself later.