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As James Gunn prepares to launch a new chapter for DC Studios, his casting choices suggest he’s not leaving all of his Marvel collaborators behind. With Superman on the horizon, several key players from Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy are stepping into DC roles—just not in the way fans might expect.
Their presence in Superman isn’t about recreating the past. It’s about grounding a fresh start with voices Gunn trusts.
Credit: DC Studios
The Guardians Arrive at DC
In a June interview with Buzzfeed Australia, Gunn confirmed that Bradley Cooper, Pom Klementieff, and Michael Rooker will all appear in Superman. Their roles, though brief, mark the start of what may be a larger migration.
“I will give you something that nobody knows,” Gunn said. “Pom Klementieff is one of the robots. In that same scene, it’s Bradley [Cooper], it’s also Pom, and Michael Rooker is another one of the robots. We’ve got two Guardians right there.”
Klementieff, best known for playing Mantis in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, joins Cooper and Rooker in voicing robotic caretakers in the Fortress of Solitude. Cooper, the voice of Rocket Raccoon, has long been rumored to portray Jor-El—Superman’s Kryptonian father—but Gunn’s comment suggests all three actors may be lending their talents exclusively to the robot scene.
Credit: Marvel Studios
Rooker is no stranger to DC. The actor previously voiced Sam Fitzgibbon in Creature Commandos and is set to appear in Peacemaker Season 2 as Red St. Wild, extending a long collaboration with Gunn that began well before their Marvel days.
Their shift also comes at a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe is facing creative and commercial uncertainty. While this summer’s Thunderbolts* was praised for its performances and grounded tone, it failed to meet box office expectations—continuing a pattern that began with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels. As Marvel works to recalibrate its next phase, Gunn’s vision for DC is gaining renewed momentum and intrigue.
From Marvel Loyalty to DC Leadership
The Guardians of the Galaxy cast has stood by Gunn before. In 2018, after old offensive tweets resurfaced, Disney removed him from Vol. 3—a move that prompted swift and widespread backlash. In a rare gesture, the entire Guardians cast, including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, and Bradley Cooper, signed an open letter urging the studio to reinstate him.
They succeeded. Gunn was rehired in 2019 and completed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which arrived in 2023 as a final chapter to a decade-long saga. The film gave Rocket Raccoon a leading role and sent the original team in separate directions—both narratively and professionally.
Credit: Marvel Studios
Bautista made clear that his time as Drax had ended, while Saldaña publicly stated she was done playing Gamora and encouraged Marvel to recast. Pratt remains open to returning, with a post-credits tag hinting at Star-Lord’s eventual comeback.
Meanwhile, Gunn had already been at work across town. His 2021 film The Suicide Squad revived DC’s beleaguered antihero slate and set the tone for Peacemaker, a surprise streaming hit. Warner Bros. Discovery took notice, tapping him in 2022 to steer the DC Universe in a new direction.
That direction begins with Superman, which introduces not just classic characters like Lex Luthor and Jimmy Olsen, but also lesser-seen heroes like Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi). Nicholas Hoult will portray Luthor, and Nathan Fillion will suit up as Green Lantern Guy Gardner.
Whether Cooper or his fellow Marvel alums will stick around for more remains unclear. But in Gunn’s hands, their presence signals more than nostalgia—it’s a bridge between the universes he’s helped define.
Are you excited for Superman?
