Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Blasts Off

Jeremy with Michael Rooker, who plays Yondu in the new movie.

In the second installment of the 2014 smash hit, Guardians of the Galaxy, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and the Guardians travel throughout the cosmos, battling monsters, flying through asteroid belts, and escaping fleets of battleships.

Peter discovers his true heritage. His father, Ego, is a cosmic being with enough power to create and destroy planets. The team struggles to stay together, even discovering new friends along the way.

Michael Rooker stars as Yondu, the former leader of the Ravagers, an interstellar group of thieves. Yondu follows the Guardians on their journey.

“It’s very cool to be a part of the Guardians,” Rooker said. “Even before [this film], Yondu, we all knew he was, in his own mind, already a superhero. He was in this whole Ravager group, but now he’s with these individuals whom he feels a part of. He’s very important.”

In the film, Yondu controls the Yaka arrow by his whistling and his bionic fin. Yet he truly flies it around with what’s on the inside—his heart.

“In real life, in the dojo, the idea is for one punch,” Rooker said. “If you punch correctly, you only need one punch. That one punch is going to give you such an amazing amount of love.”

Cast members of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 answer questions at a press event in West Hollywood, California.

GETTING TO KNOW THE CHARACTERS

Instead of focusing only on Peter’s background, the film delves into the lives of the other characters.

“We’re all different. That’s what makes [the Guardians] a family, a crazy group,” Rooker said.

Rooker developed a connection with his character by imagining Yondu’s life and backstory. This allowed the actor to create a realistic personality for the unique character.

“Actors get to experience a lot of stuff, even if we don’t get to experience it in real life,” Rooker said. “It’s a very beautiful thing, to be able to use your imagination to open up and experience something that has never been part of your life.”

“All the characters in the film are so well-drawn,” Rooker said. “I hope the audience comes away to maybe look at their family and see themselves. That’s what happens with all these characters. They learn to grow, and they learn to come together. No matter what your conflicts are, if you can work together and come together, it’s going to be a much better resolution in the end.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens in theaters nationwide today. The film also includes five post-credit scenes, so be sure to stay after the movie ends.