Guardians of the Galaxy

By Erin

*No compensation was received for this post*

From the makers of global blockbusters; Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and The Avengers, Marvel is bringing in a new team to town to save the day–the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure that is sure to marvel audiences everywhere. With stars such as Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, and Zoe Saldana it was a no brainer to attend the junket and learn more about all the fun and hard work that went into making this film. Disney and Marvel hosted the press junket for Guardians of the Galaxy. Director James Gunn and actors Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Vin Diesel (Groot), Benicio del Toro (The Collector), and Michael Rooker (Yondu), answered our burning questions.

How do I look as one of the Guardians of the Galaxy? Maybe a new character in the sequel? 😉 Before the interview with the cast, this fun photo op was available. I couldn’t resist.

The cast from Guardians of the Galaxy ready to answer everyones questions. Here are some interesting tidbits I thought you’d all enjoy from this very entertaining interview with the cast!

The first question was for James Gunn: Obviously, these are some fairly unknown characters even though they exist in the Marvel comic universe. What attracted you to the project to begin with and was bringing new characters like this a daunting task, or was it liberating? What can you tell us about that?

JAMES GUNN: It was, frankly, liberating.  I think I would have had a harder time trying to fit into the regular, Marvel scheme of things and this gave me a chance to take what I loved about Marvel movies and Marvel comics and create a whole new universe which is what has been the most exciting thing in my entire professional career. When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the different planets in the solar system and I — we used to create for every single planet a different alien race with a certain kinda pet and a certain kinda house and a certain kind of water system and everything. And I would draw these pictures and I had hundreds of these pictures and had them in a box and this was like going back to that childhood box and creating this fun universe.

The next question was for Vin, which we all got a good laugh out of.  Did you ever have to do the acting exercise be a tree where the teacher asks you to play a tree and did that pay off now that you are actually playing a tree?

VIN DIESEL: The phobias. The phobias. The nightmares. When I was a child actor, yes, I had the fear that I was gonna be the tree. And this was a way to face my fears head on and I’m delighted that I did.

Zoe was asked: Can you talk a little about the physicality of the role and preparing for the fight scenes, performing the fight scenes. Zoe you looked like you were in the shape of your life. Were you all ready or did you like step up the training?

ZOE SALDANA: Actually, I stepped down from the training. I’ve done so many action movies and I was sort of like looking at last summer thinking oh my God, I’m in love and I just wanna chill and go to Italy and eat pasta. And then all of a sudden, James calls and he’s like, “Hey, you wanna be in Guardians and be green, work six day weeks, for five hour sessions of makeup and yeah, be an alien again.” And I’m like ohhh. So then I did it, but the training process, after I kind of figured out where she was going to be spiritually, there’s muscle memory in all of the things that I’ve done in the past seven or eight years. So I was able to kind of relax with my body and, you know, work the stunt coordinators but not excessively like I’ve done on other films.

Chris Pratt who plays Peter Quill/Star-Lord was awesome and even lingered a few moments to answer some last questions and for photos.

This last question was one for everyone. The movie has an awesome soundtrack that you will love, and here’s the casts favorites.

About the music — you mentioned the music before, but what is your favorite song. I mean maybe each one could say something about their favorite song of the movie and what kind of music do you specifically like besides this one?

JAMES GUNN: My favorite, one of my favorite songs of all time is I Want You Back by the Jackson 5 which is in the movie. My favorite song in the movie strangely is Come and Get Your Love by Red Bone which I really think is when the whole idea of the mixed tape started cementing for me so that’s my favorite.

CHRIS PRATT:  I wanted to be that familiar with the music by the time we shot the movie and so I had them send it to me and while I was working out, I just listened to it on in order on repeat over and over, this album. So some of the songs I really love and some I really hate because I’ve heard them so many times and then I incorporate like sweating on a Stairmaster to like, you know, If You Want Pina Coladas. I was like oh dude. I’m gonna blow my brains out. But one song that really worked for me was that “Ooh, child…” That was like –that’s perfect for my running pace so when I was running and that song came on, it put me at a nine minute mile which at the time was like my mile — I’m like, “Oooh, child…” I’m like oh finally, this song. I don’t have to listen to the Margarita song again. Or Pina coladas or whatever. So, “Ooh, child…,” that’s the one. I think that’s what it’s called.

ZOE SALDANA: For me, it’s Cherry Bomb ’cause I was such a fan of the Runaways. And right there, you know, in the montage when they’re finally getting like their courage — their chutzpah — to do something about it — to do something to save the day and save Xandar, that’s just such a great song for them to prep up like prepping up the motley crew so I thought it was Cherry Bomb.

VIN DIESEL: I loved all the music. I had so much fun with the music. I thought it was such a testament to the movie. This is the closet Marvel will ever get to a musical.  The movie which starts with kind of an emotional tone and very quickly you –The coolest thing was my three year old son watching the movie and when Hooked on a Feeling comes on, he was at the edge of his seat and  Obviously, he can’t see Riddick or any of those other movies. So he kinda scoots to the edge of his seat and squints his eyes like this and he starts singing, “Hooked on a feeling, high off believing, that…” And watching him do that just melted my heart. So we listen to the songs at home. My daughter’s going, “Oooh, baby, give me one more…” It’s remarkable how a soundtrack could be so important, so important to the storytelling, so important to the experience, and someone back there said, “I saw the movie and I’m gonna see it six and seven times.” I think the music is gonna make people see this movie a lot. I think the music’s going to make you want to go. You have so much fun in the movie and it’s music that you wanna share with your kids anyway. So I love all the songs. I love Come Get Your Love. I love — I just thought it was incredible.

DAVE BAUTISTA: And I hate answering this question after Vin ’cause anything I say is gonna sound boring.  I don’t have a story. I can’t sing. I don’t have any kids to talk about.  Anyway. My favorite song from the film. I think it’s ABC’s I Want You Back. But actually my favorite song in the film is Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and I think it’s just because where it is. It’s such a feel good song to begin with, but also in the scene it’s such a feel good scene. We finally come together and we’re a family and we’ve all found each other and we survived and we’re kinda, you know, out to find some other trouble to get into. It’s just such a feel good moment and the song just fits perfect for it.

That was all we had time for. Be sure to see this one in theaters in 3D! Also listen carefully to the soundtrack and come back to let me know which song was your favorite! =)

Be sure to see this MARVELous film! Out this Friday, August 1st!

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