Daniel Knox
The visual effects production supervisor on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Stephane Ceretti, has revealed the fascinating process behind creating the character of Rocket.
Who is Rocket an amalgamation of in GOTG?
When asked about the incredible emotional depth portrayed by these animated animal characters, Ceretti explained that Rocket’s performance and character are a collaboration of various talented individuals, including Sean Gunn, James Gunn, and Bradley Cooper.
“We owe a lot to Sean Gunn, who actually embodies Rocket on set,” Ceretti shared. “He has been portraying Rocket alongside these actors since the first film. So when it comes to their interactions and how they act, they have a deep understanding. They have worked with Sean and they are exceptional actors. Just by looking at Sean, they know what the final result will be because they have worked with him on multiple movies. They trust the process, and it always works. [Laughs]. Their chemistry is incredible, and James is a master at directing them and providing the perfect guidance. James’ script is incredibly specific, and they stick to it, but sometimes he has spontaneous ideas during a take, and they go with it, resulting in hilarious moments.”
“It’s an amazing group of people who know how to collaborate,” Ceretti continued. “Having them as a reference is invaluable. Then we have Bradley [Cooper] coming in later during post-production to record Rocket’s voice. Bradley brings another level of acting. He analyzes the scene, the editing, and comes up with additional ideas. We take advantage of that and push the character even further. Rocket is a fusion of many talents, but at the same time, he remains a distinct character. James is the guardian of that essence. He knows exactly what the character needs to do, be, and say. Everyone tries to contribute a piece of themselves, and James curates everything. It has always been an incredible experience, honestly.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, once again written and directed by James Gunn, features an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Sean Gunn, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Maria Bakalova, Will Poulter, and Chukwudi Iwuji. Together, they bring to life the beloved characters of Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Kraglin, Nebula, Mantis, Rocket, Groot, Cosmo the Spacedog, Adam Warlock, and High Evolutionary.
