The first trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 has emerged, and music appears to play a role in the plot, as expected. Director James Gunn is recognized for incorporating pop music into his stories, most notably in the Guardians of the Galaxy films where a mix tape from Peter Quill’s late mother plays an important role.
It’s safe to assume that the third – and presumably final – installment of The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s space opera will also rely largely on the notion.
The trailer isn’t immune to the pattern, either, and makes extensive use of an eminently relevant song: Spacehog’s “In the Meantime.”
The song feels perfectly suited to what could be the final GotG adventure, especially with Rocket Raccoon taking center stage. “In the Meantime” was Spacehog’s first single.
The song itself is about connection, with the lyrics highlighting shared humanity, desires for universal peace, and, most importantly, a connection to the broader universe to which everyone belongs.
In more practical sense, the song is a perfect fit for the Guardians. It’s heavy on Queen and David Bowie vibes, which inspire Quill’s musical takes thanks to his mother’s mix tape. Star-Lord receives a Zune near the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and it’s absolutely possible that “In the Meantime” was on it.
It’s easy to picture Quill taking a liking to it. Rocket is the only other Guardian to have survived The Snap, and Nebula lacks Rocket’s team history. In their absence, he misses the team greatly, however, true to character, he represses the depth of his emotions throughout Avengers: Endgame, save for a few moments of honesty disguised in cynicism.
“I lost the only family I ever had,” he informs Thor, slapping the not-quite-ready-for-this Thunder God across the chops for good measure, and it appears that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will address the impact that event had on him.
Rocket’s resurrected pals are ready to stand by him when the High Evolutionary appears to represent the horrors of his long-buried past. The song is fundamentally about that connection. The team’s motley crew finds family in one another and physically travels the stars, which “In the Meantime” employs as a metaphor for all of creation.
Rocket, as a solitary person that does not belong to any other species and spent five years more or less alone after The Snap, is likely to experience that connection more intensely than any of them. (Nebula isn’t exactly pleasant company, even if she did get Rocket a thoughtful Christmas present.)
The song allows the trailer to rapidly establish that vibe, serving as a powerful hint of what’s to follow. It’s not a mistake, given how heavily music influences both Gunn and the Guardians of the Galaxy flicks.
And, as always, the choice – and the character it appears to inform – is superb. It remains to be seen how such ideas will be explored in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 hits theaters on May 5, 2023.
Are you excited to see the next installation of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise? What other plotlines do you think will be explored? Go ahead and type your comments down below! Thanks for reading! Stay awesome.
