Vin Diesel Tries to Will Unlikely ‘Groot’ Movie Into Existence (Commentary)
It isn’t the first time the “Guardians of the Galaxy” star has tried to leverage his fans in pursuit of a Marvel project
Ross A. Lincoln | January 26, 2017 @ 2:31 PM
Last Updated: January 26, 2017 @ 2:32 PM
Vin Diesel as groot
If at first you kind of succeed, try try again. Or it would seem, as Vin Diesel appears to be trying to gin up interest among his legions of fans for a “Guardians of the Galaxy” spinoff film focused on his character, the sentient plant named Groot.
Speaking to MTV News UK while promoting his latest film “xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage,” Diesel said a stand-alone Groot pic has already been considered by “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn.
“It’s something that James Gunn has talked about, and something that I know he’d love to do,” Diesel said, adding that he subsequently thinks a Groot pic is “inevitable.”
“I think he’s such an interesting character, and there’s so much to learn about him. I’d love to go back to his planet and learn more about him — and I think the world would. He’s really a genius on a lot of levels, and it’s just that we can only hear him say ‘I am Groot’ because of our sophistication level, not his,” Diesel added.
This isn’t the first time Diesel has tried to will a project or role into existence via fan enthusiasm. In 2013 he lobbied Marvel hard to portray Groot, posting photos from a visit to Marvel HQ to his Facebook page. That post generated a huge reaction from fans which reportedly influenced Marvel to announce him as the voice of Groot that year at Comic-Con.
He has, after all, more than 100 million fans on Facebook alone.
Will it work again to get a Groot spinoff off the ground? Well, a year later Diesel tried to repeat the trick with a post to his Facebook page celebrating the success of “Guardians.” “Vin and Marvel… you all made it happen!” Diesel said in the post. “I get the strange feeling that Marvel thinks I’m Inhuman… Haha.”
That “Inhuman” was a reference to the Marvel superheroes “The Inhumans,” created in 1965 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and at the time was being developed as a feature film. Diesel was widely assumed to be gunning for the role of Black Bolt, leader of the group. Fans reacted much the way they did to Diesel’s pre-“Guardians” lobbying, but alas, it wasn’t to be. Marvel took “Inhumans” off its film production schedule at the beginning of 2016, and the characters will now be the focus of an eight-episode ABC series, Marvel’s “Inhumans” set to debut in September.
Marvel has never announced plans for a Groot standalone movie. And given the company’s packed upcoming slate — nine Marvel Cinematic Universe films are on the schedule, from “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” this May to 2019’s untitled “Spider-Man: Homecoming” sequel — a standalone film centered on the fan favorite talking tree is, probably, very unlikely. Luckily for Vin, Groot should be around for a long time regardless. In addition to “Guardians 2,” he’ll be appearing in 2018’s Russo Brothers-directed “Avengers: Infinity War,” and likely the film’s 2029 sequel.
'Incredibles 2' and 33 Other Movie Sequels That Took Forever to Hit the Screen (Photos)
Long-gestating follow-ups include blockbusters like "Jurassic World" and famous flops like "Blues Brothers 2000" and "Zoolander 2" -- that arrived more than a decade after their predecessors.
Harrison Ford returned for Denis Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2049" a full 35 years after starring in Ridley Scott's 1982 sci-fi classic.
“The Odd Couple II” is among the sequels with the biggest gaps between films. Twenty-nine years after the 1968 original, Jack Lemmon returned as Felix Unger and Walter Matthau was Oscar Madison in their last film together.
Paramount
“Tron: Legacy” came 28 years after the original, and featured Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner. Shot in 3D, the film featured extensive visual effects and a score by Daft Punk. It grossed more than $400 million worldwide in 2010.
"The Color of Money" featured Paul Newman reprising his role as "Fast Eddie" Felson alongside Tom Cruise. Newman won the Best Actor Oscar, 25 years after 1961's "The Hustler."
Buena Vista
In “Psycho 2,” Meg Tilly played a traveler who encounters Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), 23 years after Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror classic.
Universal
Greed was still pretty good in “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” which came 23 years after the original and returned Michael Douglas as Gordon Gecko and co-starred Shia LaBeouf.
Fox
Who says you can't go home again? Ewan McGregor's Mark Renton returned for "T2 Trainspotting" 21 years after the original film.
Fox
Sly Stallone wrote, directed and starred in 2008’s “Rambo,” which came 20 years after “Rambo III.” It was dedicated to the memory of Richard Crenna, who played Col. Sam Trautman in the first three films.
Lionsgate
Roland Emmerich's "Independence Day: Resurgence" invaded theaters fully two decades after his 1996 original -- and this time without Will Smith.
A full 20 years after "Dumb and Dumber," Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey reprised their roles as dim-witted pals in 2014's "Dumb and Dumber To."
“The Last Picture Show” stars Cybill Shepherd and Jeff Bridges returned after 19 years for 1990’s “Texasville,” which unlike the original drama about small-town America, was shot in color.
Columbia
“Blues Brothers 2000” came 18 years after the 1980 original. John Goodman stepped in for the late John Belushi – John Candy and Cab Calloway also died before the sequel – but the film bombed.
Universal
“Live Free or Die Hard” might have arrived sooner than 2007, 16 years after “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” but it was delayed after the events of 9/11. In this one, Bruce Willis’ John McClane character battles cyber terrorists.
Fox
Sly Stallone wrote, directed and stars in 2006’ “Rocky Balboa,” the sixth film in the boxing franchise. It came 16 years after “Rocky V,” and featured the pugilist as widower, retired from the ring and running an Italian restaurant called “Adrian’s,” after his late wife.
MGM
Star Jack Nicholson and writer Robert Towne came back for 1990’s “The Two Jakes,” the followup to the 1974 noir classic “Chinatown.” Audiences didn’t however, and it flopped.
Paramount
The hapless Vermont state troopers from the Broken Lizard comedy troupe returned to the big screen in 2018's "Super Troopers 2" -- fully 17 years after the 2001 original.
Fox
Francis Ford Coppola delivered 1990’s “The Godfather Part III” 16 years after the series’ previous installment and closed the book on Michael Corleone. The director’s casting of his daughter Sofia drew fire; Julia Roberts, Madonna and Winona Ryder were also considered for the role.
Paramount
Sharon Stone reprised her role as Catherine Tramell in 2006's “Basic Instinct 2,” the sequel to the 1992 erotic thriller. But moviegoers weren’t turned on and it bombed.
Sony/Columbia
Pixar waited a full 14 years to bring the superhero Parr family back to the big screen in 2018's "Incredibles 2."
Writer-director Malcolm D. Lee waited 14 years before turning out “The Best Man Holiday,” a sequel to his 1999 ensemble comedy “The Best Man.” The timing was right: the sequel made $71 million on a $17 million budget.
Universal
2015's "Jurassic World" starring Chris Pratt landed in theaters nearly 14 years after "Jurassic Park III."
Universal Pictures
Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski returned for “Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles,” which followed the original by 13 years. But the sequel didn’t have many g’days at the box office.
Paramount
Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson came back after 13 years for “Evening Star,” the followup to 1983’s Best Picture Oscar winner “Terms of Endearment.”
Paramount
"xXx: Return of Xander Cage" came out 15 years after the original and 12 years after its sequel. The second film did not star Vin Diesel as Xander Cage, but he made his return in the third film, which grossed $20 million its opening weekend.
Paramount
The 2003 action film “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” came 12 years after “Judgment Day” and was the last film for Arnold Schwarzenegger before he took over as California’s governor.
Warner Bros.
Writer-director Kevin Smith didn't plan on making a sequel to his 1994 cult hit "Clerks." But after 11 years -- and "Jersey Girl" -- he changed his mind.
Miramax
Critics took director Tobe Hooper to task for infusing too much black humor into the cannibal saga “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,” which came a decade after the original 1974 slasher film.
Cannon Films
"Zoolander 2," with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson reprising their roles, came out 15 years after the original. Hoping to reel in fans of the first film, the sequel only managed to gross $28 million.
Paramount Pictures
"My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2" is opening in theaters on March 25, 14 years after the original hit the big screen. It will be opening against box office behemoth "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill.
Universal
"Finding Dory" is the sequel to 2003's "Finding Nemo," meaning it took 13 years for our fishy friends to come back to the big screen.
PIxar
"Bridget Jones's Baby" is hitting theaters a full 12 years after the last in the franchise and 15 years after the first film, "Bridget Jones's Diary." The 2001 original was a commercial and box office success, while its 2004 sequel "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" scored measly reviews and has a score of 27 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Universal
"Barbershop: The Next Cut," the 2016 follow-up to 2004's "Barbershop 2: Back in Business," was the third movie in the franchise.
Warner Bros.
1 of 35
Pixar’s animated hit is the latest follow-up to arrive more than a decade after its predecessor
Long-gestating follow-ups include blockbusters like "Jurassic World" and famous flops like "Blues Brothers 2000" and "Zoolander 2" -- that arrived more than a decade after their predecessors.