While some members of the audience won't be aware, Sean Gunn plays a crucial role in bringing the MCU's Rocket Raccoon to life. As well as performing motion capture, he delivers the character's lines on set, providing the VFX team and his fellow actors with some crucial assistance.
We recently spoke with the Kraglin actor about his dual roles in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and asked Gunn to share some insights into how he approaches playing Rocket.
You can watch his response in full by checking out our video interview below, but he admitted to the whole mo-cap process becoming increasingly challenging in recent years.
"It’s always a little different physically because there are always different physical demands on Rocket. I’m fortunate that I’m very limber and I can squat down and get to where Rocket needs to be," Gunn explains. "I always wanted the other actors, when they looked at Rocket, to be looking into a pair of eyes and not a ball on a stick or an empty space. I just try to get my face to wherever Rocket’s face would be in the scene, whatever it took to do that."
"When there’s walking and talking, it can be really challenging. That’s why I would say, from a physical standpoint, I’m going to have to retire as Rocket here," he continues. "I’m going to be 50 pretty soon and some of the squatting and moving around is getting a little hard on my ankles and feet [Laughs]. I’m going to put that part of my performance to bed."
Assuming he's being serious (and it sounds like that's the case), it appears Gunn is happy to pass the baton to a new mo-cap performer for Rocket's future MCU appearances. That would essentially mean he says goodbye to the role, a shame when all signs point to the raccoon taking centre stage as the new leader of the Guardians.
It would, however, give the actor an opportunity to focus on Kraglin, a character who also joined the new Guardians team at the end of Vol. 3. While Marvel Studios has confirmed plans for the Legendary Star-Lord to return, we're currently less certain when it comes to what the future holds in store for the cosmic team of heroes.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now playing in theaters. You can find Sean on Twitter @seangunn and on Instagram @thejudgegunn.