The trailers hinted that someone important might die, and the movie did have some surprising deaths. However, it wasn’t necessarily the characters fans were expecting. This movie was directed by James Gunn and marked his final project with Marvel Studios.
It also served as the last adventure for the original Guardians of the Galaxy team, who came together once more to save Rocket by exploring his past.
Despite the anticipation of major character deaths fueled by the film’s trailers, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 didn’t actually kill off any of the primary members of the Guardians.
Although the characters face perilous situations throughout the film, they manage to avoid tragic fates. Nevertheless, James Gunn bid the original Guardians team a bittersweet farewell in this Phase 5 instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
None of The Main Guardians Of The Galaxy Die in Vol. 3
In the beginning of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the audience is reintroduced to the Guardians team, and Will Poulter makes his first appearance as Adam Warlock.
He fulfils the Sovereign’s threat of revenge against the Guardians for their actions in the second movie. Warlock attacks the Guardians and injures Nebula, Groot, Drax, Mantis, and Rocket, with Rocket’s life hanging by a thread.
Rocket faces several moments where it seems like he might not make it, including one where he appears to be in an afterlife, interacting with Lylla, his childhood friend. However, in the end, Rocket’s life is saved by Peter Quill and Gamora.
Throughout the movie, there are other close calls, such as Drax nearly dying in a battle with Orgocorp’s Sentries, the Guardians facing danger during the destruction of Counter-Earth, and Star-Lord almost freezing to death in space while rescuing the High Evolutionary’s experiments. However, none of the Guardians actually die in Vol. 3, although the tension remains high throughout the film.
Lylla is Shot by High Evolutionary
In the film, none of the main Guardians actually die, but the movie still manages to be highly emotional due to some heartbreaking deaths. The film delves into Rocket’s backstory in the MCU, showing the experiments he endured at the hands of Chukwudi Iwuiji’s High Evolutionary and his early friendships, particularly his close connection with Lylla the Otter.
However, while trying to escape captivity, Lylla is tragically shot and killed by the High Evolutionary. This event sparks Rocket’s anger towards his creator and ultimately leads to the escape of the future Guardians.
Rocket has a poignant moment when he encounters Lylla again in the afterlife, but he ultimately decides to return to his body, knowing that his friends will be there waiting for him.
Floor & Teefs are Killed by The High Evolutionary’s Guards
In the movie, alongside Rocket and Lylla, there are other experiments of the High Evolutionary who are imprisoned in cages. These include the rabbit Floor and the walrus Teefs.
These four creatures share a close bond, but sadly, Teefs and Floor also meet tragic ends during Rocket’s attempt to escape. After Lylla’s death, Rocket becomes enraged and attacks the High Evolutionary. However, he is soon confronted by guards.
Although Rocket manages to defeat the High Evolutionary’s henchmen, it’s too late to save Teefs and Floor as the guards shoot them. Despite their deaths, Teefs and Floor are briefly seen again in the afterlife, but Rocket decides to return to his body, as it’s not his time yet to join them.
Ayesha & Humanimals Die in The Destruction of Counter-Earth
In the film, Elizabeth Debicki’s character, High Priestess Ayesha, and her Sovereign people were actually created by the High Evolutionary. Ayesha comes to Counter-Earth with her “son”, Adam Warlock, to capture Rocket for the High Evolutionary.
However, things take a tragic turn as Counter-Earth is destroyed, leading Warlock to join the Guardians of the Galaxy after his mother and the Animen population of Counter-Earth are killed.
This tragic event serves as the origin story for the heroic version of Adam Warlock, but it also reveals the High Evolutionary’s dark side as he commits genocide by wiping out the entire species he had created for Counter-Earth.
High Evolutionary Survives The Destruction of His Ship
The character known as the High Evolutionary was a fascinating addition to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Even though it seemed like he perished, it would have been a shame to lose such a powerful and menacing character in the MCU.
It was later confirmed by James Gunn that the High Evolutionary actually survived the events of the film and is now imprisoned in Knowhere. Drax can be seen carrying the High Evolutionary’s body to Knowhere in the closing scenes of the movie, leaving the door open for this complex and sinister villain to make a return in the future of the MCU.
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