GOTG 3's Sean Gunn Didn't Understand Kraglin Until After He Saw The First Movie

Since the release of the first "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie in 2014, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise have luckily gotten the rare opportunity to learn much more about the members of the Guardians. Not only have the characters appeared in the two "Guardians" sequels but they were also featured in the final two "Avengers" movies, "Thor: Love and Thunder" and Disney+'s "Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special," allowing for backstories for members of the ensemble to emerge to round out a full and satisfying "Guardians" experience.

And while the new film "Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3" largely recalls the origins of Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Peter Quill-Star Lord (Chris Pratt) desperately trying to reconnect with his love, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Sean Gunn's Ravager-turned-Guardian character, Kraglin Obfonteri, is finally getting to experience a full story arc.

In an interview with Collider, Sean Gunn said a peek back at his character in the original film in 2014 demonstrates just how far along Kraglin has come in nine years. "Without going too far into spoiling anything, just watch the first scene that we see Kraglin in, in the first movie, and then watch the last scene that we see Kraglin in, in the last movie, and to say that he's had one heck of an arc would be quite an understatement," Sean Gunn told the publication.

The "Guardians of the Galaxy" film trilogy and the recent "Holiday Special" featuring the characters has been a unique experience for Sean Gunn in that the overall story is the brainchild of his brother, writer and director James Gunn. However, even with his close ties to the creator of the franchise, Sean Gunn admits he fully wasn't sure of the direction of Kraglin — who began the film trilogy serving as the first mate of Yondu (Michael Rooker) and his Ravager Clan.

"Honestly, I didn't even really know who Kraglin was until I saw the first movie. We didn't quite get it," Sean Gunn told Collider. "We knew that there were different directions that character could go, but it wasn't until I watched the first movie that I really understood who he was, which is one of the really lovely things about doing a franchise and having it turn out to be a trilogy."

As such, Gunn added, the titular "Guardians" — including Kraglin — "get more bites at the apple," which ultimately led to bigger opportunities as an actor to flesh out his character.

"You get to learn who they are, and then also continue to explore them, which is really a cool part of it," Gunn added.

Also starring Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, and Chukwudi Iwuji as the Guardians' new nemesis The High Evolutionary, "Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3" is now in theaters.