Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana & More Celebrate Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Filming Start

As Marvel Studios looks to the end of 2021 with two more major releases, the team behind the MCU is hard at work with filming and post-production for more than a handful of entries for the next couple of years as well. This includes production beginning on one of 2023's most highly anticipated movies in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which will be that year's cosmic summer blockbuster.

Director James Gunn has spent the last few weeks teasing how deep he is in the process of developing this epic threequel, although the plot is still expectedly being kept a secret for the foreseeable future. The team also has the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special on their plate to complete, and with this entry alongside Vol. 3, the cosmic team looks set to take the Marvel world by storm as Phase 4 continues.

Quite recently, Gunn announced on social media that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is underway with its first day of filming, which comes nearly 18 months before its Summer 2023 theatrical debut. While he's clearly thrilled to be back working with Marvel, his actors shared their own feelings echoing that excitement.

Guardians Team Celebrates Start of Filming

Marvel

Star-Lord actor Chris Pratt took to Instagram to celebrate the first day of filming for Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Sharing the cast photo James Gunn released earlier in the day, Pratt celebrated Day 1 being a huge success with a particular scene that was filmed and teased that his third solo outing "will be worth the wait.:"

"Day 1 in the can. Honestly could not have started off better. Hit the ground running with a delicate, emotional, funny, wild, complicated scene and everyone absolutely killed. So grateful to be puppeteered by my friend and brother the mad genius @jamesgunn Oh My God I promise you… this movie will be worth the wait. #gotgvol3"

Gamora actress Zoe Saldana echoed Pratt's sentiment on Twitter by sharing the same picture and expressing that the "Guardians gang is back together" in her caption.

Nebula star Karen Gillain followed Saldana's lead with her own Twitter post, which included the cast photo along with a simple and powerful message:

"Oh. It. Is. ON."

MCU newcomer Chukwudi Iwuji celebrated his upcoming Guardians debut in his Instagram stories by thanking James Gunn for the opportunity to join the space party:

"As an artist, you hope to encounter a champion to open doors for you. Thank you James Gunn for practically kicking the doors off the hinges. Let's play!!!"

Guardians Vol. 3 Off To a Marvelous Start

While only one day of work is complete on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it's more than evident that the team making the movie is thrilled to be back together again for another round of filmmaking.

Chris Pratt's leadership in the Guardians franchise helped push his first two solo movies to unexpected heights, as did his key role in Avengers: Infinity War. With Star-Lord's parentage now fully explored in Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, the space outlaw will hopefully have the opportunity to evolve as a hero with his adopted family by his side.

With questions regarding Gamora's presence in this film after the events of Avengers: Endgame, Saldana's social media post seems to indicate she'll be back in full sword-wielding form as her 2014 Variant traverses the galaxy. The Guardians will be searching for their lost teammate in between appearances in Thor: Love and Thunder and their 2022 Holiday Special, but the daughter of Thanos will be as important as ever this time around.

Gillan's Nebula will have her own thrilling path as well after teaming up with the Avengers for the Time Heist, and she'll be dealing with plenty of emotions after having to kill a version of herself prior to the battle against her father and his army. Her path toward redemption will continue to be a focal point, especially as her relationship strengthens with the rest of the Guardians.

As for Chukwudi Iwuji, his inclusion in Guardians 3 should help give the movie a fresh face after his upcoming role in John Cena's Peacemaker for the DCEU, which was also developed by Gunn. The bond between director and actor clearly became a strong one after their first project together, although it will likely be some time until fans know who the MCU newcomer is playing.

As 2021 moves into 2022, fans will be keeping a close eye on shooting for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for any more exciting information regarding the conclusion to the trilogy. As the Guardians set off on another epic galactic journey, which will feature new powerful players like Will Poulter's Adam Warlock, the MCU's 32nd full-length movie will continue making headlines as the popular cosmic team prepares for the future.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is currently filming and will debut in theaters on May 5, 2023.