Vin Diesel hasn’t confirmed that he is voicing Groot in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, but he also isn’t denying it. We do know that prior to the Groot role that Diesel was approached for a new Marvel property but we are unsure what it would be aside from “fresh IP”. Now, Diesel has shed a little more light on that mysterious project.
Diesel told Maria Menounos that the project he was originally approached for was going to be for one of the currently unknown 2016 Marvel films. Which one is still pure speculation, but these comments may shed some light on that Phase 3 movie:
“[It] is something so big I can’t even talk about because it’s like the merging of brands in a way which I won’t get into.”
The idea of merging of brands may sound like crossover films, but I would venture to guess it is something more than just Marvel characters meeting other Marvel characters. To date, THE AVENGERS and other Marvel movies have shared a single universe and characters have appeared in each others movies, but they are all part of a single brand: Marvel. The word merging triggers ideas to me of Disney characters crossing with Marvel, or possibly Marvel meeting STAR WARS. Or, it could be a wholly original superhero that exists in the Disney universe. The possibilities are truly endless if this turns out to be true.
The question that arises from this is whether or not this is a good idea. Do we want to keep Marvel, Disney, and Lucasfilm distinct from one another or is crossing brands a good idea? There was recently an episode of Disney’s PHINEAS and FERB that showcased animated Marvel heroes. It worked and was well done, but can this same thing work on the big screen? If anyone could do it, Vin Diesel has the presence to pull it off. But, I think this really depends on what this merging actually will be.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (possibly) with Vin Diesel will open August 1, 2014.