The Definitive List: All 25+ Major Actors And Shocking Cameos In The Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Cast

The final chapter of James Gunn’s beloved cosmic trilogy, *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3*, delivered an emotional, action-packed conclusion that resonated deeply with fans worldwide. Released in 2023, the film is, as of this December 2025 update, a crucial milestone in the MCU, marking the end of the original team’s journey and setting up a brand-new iteration of the Guardians. The movie’s success hinges not just on its story, but on its massive, talented ensemble cast, which brought back every major player while introducing some of the most memorable new characters in Phase 5.

This comprehensive guide details the full cast list, including the returning heroes, the powerful new antagonists, the emotional voice actors behind Rocket's tragic backstory, and the many surprise cameos that only a James Gunn film could deliver. Prepare to dive deep into the actors and the complex characters they portrayed in the Guardians' last ride.

The Original Guardians: Full Biography and Cast List

The core team returned for one final, deeply personal mission, each actor bringing a decade of chemistry and character development to their roles. The movie provided a definitive send-off for many of these beloved characters.

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• Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord: The half-human leader of the Guardians. The film sees Quill grappling with the loss of Gamora (the original version) while leading the team on a desperate mission to save Rocket.
• Zoe Saldaña as Gamora: Not the Gamora from previous films, this version is a member of the Ravagers who never knew the Guardians. Saldaña brilliantly portrayed a tougher, colder version of the character, lacking the emotional connection of the original.
• Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer: The simple, literal-minded warrior finds a new purpose as the "Dad" of Knowhere, focusing on caring for the children rescued from the High Evolutionary. Bautista has confirmed this is his final appearance as the character.
• Karen Gillan as Nebula: Having evolved from a villain to a core Guardian, Nebula is a much more empathetic and central figure, using her cybernetic enhancements for good and acting as Quill's emotional anchor.
• Pom Klementieff as Mantis: The empath finally confronts her relationship with Drax and her own identity, leading to her decision to leave the team to find her own path.
• Vin Diesel as Groot: The sentient tree-like humanoid is now a massive, hulking figure, capable of powerful combat and even flight, showing his final stage of growth as "Alpha Groot."
• Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon (Voice): The heart of the film. Cooper's voice work is central to the emotional weight of Rocket's origin story, showcasing his pain, genius, and deep connection to his friends.
• Sean Gunn as Kraglin Obfonteri: James Gunn's brother and a long-time Ravager, Kraglin takes on a more prominent role, finally mastering Yondu’s arrow and officially joining the new Guardians team. Sean Gunn also provided the on-set motion capture for Rocket.

New Faces and Major Antagonists: The High Evolutionary and Adam Warlock

The third installment introduced two major, highly anticipated characters from the Marvel Comics canon, both of whom proved essential to the plot's emotional and physical conflict.

Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary

The High Evolutionary is the primary antagonist, a brilliant but sadistic scientist obsessed with creating "The perfect society" and revealed to be the creator and torturer of Rocket Raccoon.

• Role: The High Evolutionary, a supremely intelligent, genocidal scientist.
• Actor: Chukwudi Iwuji.
• Key Entity: He is the founder of the OrgoCorp, an organization dedicated to creating a new, perfect world, first on Counter-Earth.
• Background: Iwuji had previously worked with James Gunn on the DC series *Peacemaker*, making his casting a continuation of Gunn’s tradition of working with familiar actors.

Will Poulter as Adam Warlock

Teased in the post-credits scene of *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2*, Adam Warlock is the golden, artificially created being sent by Ayesha to destroy the Guardians.

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• Role: Adam Warlock, a powerful, golden-skinned Sovereign warrior.
• Actor: Will Poulter.
• Evolution: He begins as a powerful, childlike force of destruction but, after a near-death experience, joins the New Guardians team in the film's final moments.

The Emotional Core: Voice Actors Behind Rocket's Friends

The flashback sequences detailing Rocket Raccoon's tragic origin story were universally praised as the emotional highlight of the film. These scenes introduced three new, deeply impactful characters—Rocket's friends from his time in captivity—voiced by a trio of notable actors.

Lylla the Otter, Teefs the Walrus, and Floor the Rabbit

These three characters represent the family Rocket lost, providing the emotional motivation for the entire film's plot and the High Evolutionary's ultimate downfall. Their names and actors are now iconic entities in the MCU's emotional lore.

• Lylla the Otter (Voice: Linda Cardellini): Lylla is Rocket's soulmate, a kind-hearted otter with mechanical arms. Cardellini is a familiar MCU face, having previously played Laura Barton (Hawkeye's wife) in the *Avengers* films. This marks her second distinct role in the MCU.
• Teefs the Walrus (Voice: Asim Chaudhry): A gentle walrus with mechanical legs, Teefs is another of Rocket's caged friends. Chaudhry is best known for his work in the UK series *People Just Do Nothing*.
• Floor the Rabbit (Voice: Mikaela Hoover): A rabbit with a metallic cage-like apparatus around her mouth and mechanical wheels, Floor is the most innocent and playful of the group. Hoover has appeared in other James Gunn projects, including *The Suicide Squad*.

Notable Supporting Cast and James Gunn's Cameo Universe

James Gunn is famous for filling his films with actors from his previous projects and unexpected cameos. *Vol. 3* was no exception, featuring a deep bench of talent in smaller but significant roles, adding to the film’s rich topical authority.

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Key Supporting Players and Voice Roles

• Maria Bakalova as Cosmo the Spacedog (Voice): Introduced in the *Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special*, the telekinetic Soviet space dog becomes an official member of the New Guardians team. Bakalova's voice performance brought a distinct charm to the character.
• Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha: The golden High Priestess of the Sovereign returns, now obsessed with revenge and the mother/creator of Adam Warlock.
• Nathan Fillion as Master Karja: Another James Gunn regular, Fillion plays an Orgosentry security guard at the headquarters of OrgoCorp, the massive, fleshy space station.
• Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord: The leader of a faction of Ravagers returns, helping the Guardians in their mission.
• Michael Rosenbaum as Martinex: A crystal-bodied member of Stakar’s Ravager team.
• Seth Green as Howard the Duck (Voice): The foul-mouthed duck makes a brief, signature appearance on Knowhere.
• Judy Greer as War Pig (Voice): A cybernetically enhanced pig, another of the High Evolutionary’s creations.
• Tara Strong as Recorder Theel (Voice): One of the High Evolutionary's robotic assistants.
• Daniela Melchior as Ura: A supporting character on Knowhere. Melchior is another actor from Gunn's *The Suicide Squad*.

The Legacy: The New Guardians of the Galaxy Team

The film’s post-credits scene officially confirmed the new lineup, signaling a new era for the franchise under the leadership of Rocket Raccoon. This transition is arguably the most significant cast change in the trilogy's history.

The new roster, led by Rocket Raccoon, is comprised of a mix of old and new faces, ensuring the Guardians' legacy continues in the MCU.

Members of the New Guardians 2.0:

• Rocket Raccoon (Leader)
• Groot (Alpha Groot)
• Kraglin Obfonteri (Sean Gunn)
• Adam Warlock (Will Poulter)
• Cosmo the Spacedog (Maria Bakalova)
• Phyla-Vell: A young, super-powered girl rescued from the High Evolutionary's ship, whose name is a nod to a major comic book character.
• Blurp: A small, furry, alien creature and pet of Adam Warlock, who joins the team.

The sheer depth of the *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* cast, from the heartbreaking voice work of Linda Cardellini as Lylla to the masterful villainy of Chukwudi Iwuji’s High Evolutionary, is a testament to James Gunn’s vision. The film successfully closed the book on one team while simultaneously introducing a fresh, exciting roster, ensuring that the spirit of the Guardians will live on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.