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We admit, we can’t get enough Marvel Cinematic Universe crossovers. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame were full of them, but as we enter Phase 4, we’re excited for even more possibilities. Now, Vin Diesel has confirmed that Thor: Love and Thunder will feature some familiar faces.

Vin Diesel is the voice of Groot in the MCU

Vin Diesel attends the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios' 'Avengers: Endgame' on April 23, 2019
Vin Diesel attends the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers: Endgame’ on April 23, 2019 | Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Diesel, who is perhaps best known for the Fast and the Furious film franchise, has a notable role in the MCU. He voices the character Groot, a tree-like being who first appeared in the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy.

The actor likes to attend the screenings of Marvel films in outfits that nod to his character, as seen above. He reprised the role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Infinity War, and Endgame.

The character was last seen in ‘Avengers: Endgame’

Diesel has been able to play the character in many different states. In the original film, Groot was an adult, and very large in stature. However, he dies in this film. And what remains is reborn as sapling. (Though the character retains the same name, he is the former’s child, essentially.)

Infinity War depicts an adolescent Groot. He teams up with his best friend, Rocket, and Thor. He is then a casualty of Thanos’ snap. In Endgame, he returns along with the rest of the Guardians. They then get ready to leave on their ship, adding Thor to their crew.

Vin Diesel reveals his next Marvel movie will be ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

The hype around the Asgardians of the Galaxy — as the new group was dubbed — has been primarily focused on whether or not Chris Hemsworth’s Thor will appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. But due to scheduling conflicts, Thor: Love and Thunder is set to come out first. And Diesel has confirmed his appearance in it.

While promoting his film Bloodshot, Diesel told Comicbook.com, “The director [Taika Waititi] talked to me about how Thor [Love and Thunder] will incorporate some of the Guardians of the Galaxy, which will be very interesting.”

And that’s not all Diesel revealed. “I only have two words about that character, and it is: Alpha Groot,” he said of what stage is next for his MCU hero. There are a few theories as to what this could mean. But it definitely indicates that we’ve seen the last of teen Groot.

When is ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 3’ due out?

The third entry in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy was originally scheduled as one of the first films post-Endgame. This makes sense, given the way the movie ended. But director James Gunn’s firing in 2018 led to some delays. Though he was hired back in 2019, he had already taken a job with DC directing The Suicide Squad, so he had to finish that before returning to the property.

As of now, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 doesn’t have a release date. Marvel has its schedule mapped out through 2021. So it will be at least two years before the film comes out. But at least we’ll get to see our favorite team in November 2021 with Love and Thunder.

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