Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 Actor, Cast and Crew, Director

Director: James Gunn

James Gunn returns to the director's chair for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," infusing the exercise with his unique voice and style. Funny, emotionally resonant, and genre-savvy, Gunn has been key to deciding the Guardians franchise's tone. This sense of direction he maintains in the sequel continues to delve deeper into family and identity issues without losing that special something that gives these movies their quirkiness.

Cast

Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord - Chris Pratt returns to the character of Star-Lord, the gutsy, rascal-like leader of the Guardians. Here, he puts comedic timing side by side with a shot of vulnerability as Peter Quill tries to square his past with his present.

Zoe Saldana as Gamora - In this sequel, Zoe Saldana reprises her role as Gamora, the deadly warrior with family issues. The sequel tells more about Gamora's relationship and personal growth, and that gives Zoe Saldana her chance to portray her strength and depth.

Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer - A lot of the comic relief in this movie is still provided by Dave Bautista as Drax. His literal interpretations—whether it be killing people off or general conversations—are done with expert deadpan timing that continues to make him endearing to audiences. It allows for even further realism on the part of Bautista to mix humor with dramatic instances.

Vin Diesel as Groot - Voicing lovable Groot, Vin Diesel returns, in a performance almost entirely consisting of various inflections on the line, "I am Groot." It's honestly Diesel's voice work coupled with the CGI rendering of this character that seals the deal on Groot's adorability from sapling to "Baby Groot."

Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon - Bradley Cooper brings his voice to Rocket Raccoon, the smart-aleck, tech-head of the Guardians. It is Cooper's voice work that, along with advanced CGI, brings out the power of personality in Rocket, mixing some interesting dark humor into vulnerability.

Kurt Russell as Ego the Living Planet - Kurt Russell appears as Ego, a mighty, celestial being with a troubled relationship to Peter Quill. On the villainous side of things, it is actually the charisma of Russell that lends weight and strong counterweight to the Guardians' dynamic.

Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta - Michael Rooker reprise the role of Yondu, the blue-skinned space pirate who has a fatherly relationship with Peter Quill. More remarkable in the sequel, though, is Yondu's arc. Nascent elements of his bond with Quill and inner turmoil were revealed therein.

Karen Gillan as Nebula - Karen Gillan returns as Nebula, Gamora's conflicted sister. Nebula's role in "Vol. 2" pertains to the difficult relationship with her sister and redemption.

Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha - Elizabeth Debicki plays Ayesha, a high priestess of the Sovereign race. Her character in search of the Guardians comes up with more problems and pushes an all-new level of intrigue into the plot.

Crew

Alongside James Gunn, the film’s creative team includes notable figures such as:

Cinematographer: Henry Braham - Henry Braham's cinematography brings life to the movie's stunning cosmic settings and action sequences that have, at best, been very dynamic and immersive in their experience.

Composer: Tyler Bates - Tyler Bates returns to score the sequel, turning in a soundtrack that intersperses classic hits with brand-new compositions in a bid to really ram home the nostalgic and emotional resonance. 

Editor: Fred Raskin - The editing by Fred Raskin is fast and engaging, and from action to comedy, the development of characters maintains a great pace.

Production Designer: Scott Chambliss - Production design by Scott Chambliss created a living, breathing realization of the movie's varied worlds, from the color pop look of the Sovereign to the rough landscapes traveled across by the Guardians.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" is a testament to the combined effort that its talented cast and crew put in. The direction by James Gunn, coupled with other stellar performances and behind-the-scenes expertise, ensures that the film goes right to continue resonating with fans, standing out within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.