USA TODAY International Edition
Diesel, thinking big, plants the seeds for a Groot spinoff
Vin Diesel has very big plans for Groot.
The treelike creature voiced by Diesel has been reborn as Baby Groot in writer/ director James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Vol. 2 ( in theaters Thursday). Groot stole 2014’ s Guardians of
the Galaxy as the sidekick of Rocket Raccoon ( voiced by Bradley Cooper) before dying heroically and being reborn as diminutive Baby Groot.
Even though both Groots say only three words (“I am Groot”), Diesel is seeing spinoff possibilities.
Diesel, the spiritual center of the Fast and Furious franchise, suggests that a Rocket and Groot spinoff discussion has begun. He especially likes the idea of a grown- up Groot fighting another green superhero, the Hulk.
Forget Avengers vs. Star Wars — this fight would be bigger in Diesel’s eyes.
“James Gunn has always wanted a Rocket and Groot movie,” Diesel says. “And I know that Disney is very much into being successful. And the most successful poster in Disney’s future is the poster that has ‘ Groot vs. Hulk.’ ... ( The world) cannot wait to see it.”
When we asked Gunn about the Groot concept at Guardians’ world premiere in Hollywood, he didn’t shoot it down. But he did chuckle.
“Vin has a lot of ideas. I don’t know where he comes up with these things!” Gunn said.
That won’t curb Diesel’s enthusiasm for the “super- popular” Groot and Baby Groot.
He can’t decide which one he likes better: “They are one in the same to me. It’s like saying, ‘ Who do I like better, grade- school Vin or high school Vin?’ Duh, they are the same, but high school Vin could drive some fast cars.”
Diesel does predict that the “mature Groot” who will be seen in future installments is going to be an even bigger force.
“The first Groot we saw was a freshman in college. This ( Guardians 2) Groot is in nursery school. Wait till we see the full- fledged working- man Groot. Wait till we see Groot!”