Marvel star confirms he's "retired" from playing Guardians of the Galaxy favourite

Marvel star Sean Gunn has hung his motion-capture suit as he's announced he will not reprise the role of Rocket Raccoon in potential future Guardians of the Galaxy appearances.

Gunn, also known for playing fan-favourite, oddball Kirk in Gilmore Girls, has provided the motion capture for Rocket in all Marvel movies so far, including all three Guardians of the Galaxy volumes, as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame and Thor: Love and Thunder.

Also known to Marvel fans for the role of Kraglin Obfonteri, the actor has announced he wouldn't return as the adorable, foul-mouthed raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper.

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Speaking about whether he'd return as Rocket, Gunn declared he's "too old" now he's turned 50 and discussed the impact that being on his knees to make himself small as Marvel's very own raccoon has had on his "physiology".

"Yes! Everyone thinks it's my knees, but it's really my feet and my ankles," Gunn explained on The Brandon Davis Show when asked if playing Rocket hurts.

"I'm in a catcher's crouch, and I'm pivoting a lot on my points of contact with the ground. I'm doing a lot of pivoting in my ankles and feet. And over the years, I think it had a little bit of an effect on my physiology."

He added: "My knees are fine, but since I turned 50 a couple of years ago, I am retired from Rocket. Not that [Marvel has] called, but if they did, I don't think I could do the motion reference for Rocket anymore. I'm too old."

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It isn't clear whether any of the Guardians will cameo in the upcoming, stacked Avengers: Doomsday, though it seems safe to assume that Cooper would still voice Rocket if so, while a different actor might provide the motion capture.

Since last starring as Rocket in 2023's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, in which he also voiced a young version of the raccoon, Gunn has also starred as Maxwell Lord in 2025's Superman, written and directed by his brother James Gunn.

Sean will next be seen in horror film Appofeniacs, exploring the hyper-violent consequences of AI technology when a series of deepfake videos are unleashed onto the world.

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Reporter, Digital Spy

Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy. 

Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).