Guardian of the Galaxy Ca t Guide: Full Li t of Actor

When a bunch of intergalactic misfits first soared onto the big screen in 2014, the Guardians of the Galaxy cast quickly became fan favorites, with Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord leading a group that brought humor and heart to Marvel’s cosmic corner. Over three films, the roster expanded and shifted, making it worth tracking who appears in each movie.

Films in trilogy: 3 · Core cast members in original film: 5 · Core cast members in Vol. 3: 7

Here are key facts about the cast.

Who is in the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy?

Main characters: Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, Groot, Rocket

• Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord: The human leader of the Guardians, raised by Yondu’s Ravagers. (IMDb credits)
• Zoe Saldaña as Gamora: The last survivor of her planet, adopted by Thanos. (IMDb credits)
• Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer: Seeking vengeance against Ronan. (IMDb credits)
• Vin Diesel as Groot (voice): A tree-like being who only says “I am Groot.” (IMDb credits)
• Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon (voice): A genetically enhanced raccoon and weapons expert. (IMDb credits)

Supporting characters: Yondu, Ronan, Korath, etc.

• Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta: A blue-skinned Ravager leader and Quill’s surrogate father. (IMDb credits)
• Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser: Primary antagonist, a Kree fanatic. (IMDb credits)
• Karen Gillan as Nebula: Gamora’s cybernetic sister, later an ally. (IMDb credits)
• Djimon Hounsou as Korath the Pursuer: Ronan’s lieutenant. (IMDb credits)
• John C. Reilly as Rhomann Dey: A Nova Corps officer. (IMDb credits)
• Glenn Close as Nova Prime Irani Rael: Leader of the Nova Corps. (IMDb credits)
• Benicio del Toro as Taneleer Tivan / The Collector: Post-credits appearance. (IMDb credits)

The 2014 film introduced a cast that felt fresh and unpolished—a deliberate choice by director James Gunn. The implication: this was a group of actors willing to lean into absurdity while still delivering emotional weight. That balance set the tone for the entire trilogy.

Who is in the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2?

Returning cast

• Chris Pratt returns as Peter Quill / Star-Lord (Wikipedia cast list)
• Zoe Saldaña returns as Gamora (Wikipedia cast list)
• Dave Bautista returns as Drax (Wikipedia cast list)
• Vin Diesel as Groot (now a younger version after the original’s sacrifice) (Wikipedia cast list)
• Bradley Cooper as Rocket (Wikipedia cast list)
• Karen Gillan as Nebula, now a more prominent role (Wikipedia cast list)
• Michael Rooker as Yondu, with expanded backstory (Wikipedia cast list)

New characters: Mantis, Ego

• Pom Klementieff as Mantis: An empathic insectoid who can sense emotions. (Wikipedia cast list)
• Kurt Russell as Ego: Quill’s long-lost father, a living Celestial planet. (Wikipedia cast list)
• Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha: High Priestess of the Sovereign race. (Wikipedia cast list)
• Chris Sullivan as Taserface: A Ravager mutineer. (Wikipedia cast list)
• Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord: A cameo as a legendary Ravager leader. (Wikipedia cast list)

Vol. 2 expanded the ensemble without losing the core five. The newcomer Mantis became a lasting addition, while Kurt Russell’s Ego gave Pratt his most personal antagonist. The pattern: every sequel added at least one major character who stuck around for the finale.

Who is in the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?

Returning cast

• Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord (Wikipedia cast list)
• Zoe Saldaña as Gamora (an alternate-timeline version) (Wikipedia cast list)
• Dave Bautista as Drax (Wikipedia cast list)
• Vin Diesel as Groot (now fully grown and voiced differently) (Wikipedia cast list)
• Bradley Cooper as Rocket (Wikipedia cast list)
• Karen Gillan as Nebula (Wikipedia cast list)
• Pom Klementieff as Mantis (Wikipedia cast list)
• Sean Gunn as Kraglin (Wikipedia cast list)

New characters: Adam Warlock, High Evolutionary

• Will Poulter as Adam Warlock: A genetically perfect being created by Ayesha. (Wikipedia cast list)
• Chukwudi Iwuji as High Evolutionary: The primary antagonist, a mad scientist obsessed with perfection. (Wikipedia cast list)
• Linda Cardellini as Lylla: Rocket’s otter companion in flashbacks. (Wikipedia cast list)
• Nathan Fillion as Master Karja: A cameo role. (Wikipedia cast list)

Vol. 3 marked the send-off for this version of the team. The cast swelled to nine core members, and the emotional stakes were highest for Rocket. The catch: with James Gunn moving to DC, the future of any Guardians team remains unwritten.

Who are the notable supporting characters and antagonists?

Who is the green girl? Gamora or Mantis?

Both Gamora and Mantis have green skin, but they are distinct characters. Gamora is a green-skinned warrior, played by Zoe Saldaña. Mantis, played by Pom Klementieff, has lighter green skin and antennae. The confusion is understandable—both are female humanoids with green tones. (Wikipedia cast list)

Who is the blue guy? Yondu or others?

Yondu Udonta, played by Michael Rooker, has blue skin and a mohawk. He is the most prominent blue-skinned character in the series. Other blue-skinned characters include Korath (Djimon Hounsou) and the Ravagers. (Wikipedia cast list)

Thanos in Guardians of the Galaxy

Josh Brolin appears as Thanos in a mid-credits scene of the first film. He also appears in Vol. 2 post-credits, but his main role in the MCU is in the Avengers films. (Wikipedia cast list)

Ronan the Accuser

Lee Pace plays Ronan, the primary villain of the first film. Ronan is a Kree radical who wields the Power Stone. Pace’s performance brought a cold fanaticism to the role. (Wikipedia cast list)

The supporting cast is deep, with A-list talent in small roles (Glenn Close, Sylvester Stallone, Benicio del Toro). The implication: Marvel’s cosmic corner attracted top actors willing to play offbeat characters—and the trilogy is richer for it.

Where can I find the full Guardians of the Galaxy cast list?

IMDb page

IMDb provides the most comprehensive cast and crew credits, including minor roles and cameos. (IMDb credits)

Wikipedia lists

Each film’s Wikipedia article includes a cast table with character summaries. (Wikipedia cast list)

Other aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes lists main cast alongside critic reviews. TV Guide and other databases also maintain up-to-date casts. (Rotten Tomatoes page)

Three films, three expanding casts, one clear trend: the core five never wavered, but the ensemble grew from 12 credited actors in the first film to over 20 in the third. For a complete breakdown, the sources above are your best bet. For similar cast breakdowns, check out the Fast and Furious 3 Cast: Tokyo Drift Stars & Roles and John Wick: Chapter 5: Release Date, Cast & Updates.

Cast comparison across the trilogy

Five actors anchored the trilogy, while others joined or departed. Here’s how the principal cast lines up.

The pattern: new antagonists appear in each film, but the core five remain intact. Mantis and Nebula evolve from supporting to main cast over the trilogy.

Confirmed facts about the cast

• Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in all three films
• Zoe Saldaña as Gamora in all three films
• Dave Bautista as Drax in all three films
• Vin Diesel as Groot (voice) in all three films
• Bradley Cooper as Rocket (voice) in all three films
• Michael Rooker as Yondu in Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
• Lee Pace as Ronan in Vol. 1
• Kurt Russell as Ego in Vol. 2
• Pom Klementieff as Mantis in Vol. 2 and Vol. 3
• Karen Gillan as Nebula in all three films
• Will Poulter as Adam Warlock in Vol. 3
• Chukwudi Iwuji as High Evolutionary in Vol. 3
• Josh Brolin as Thanos (cameo) in Vol. 1 post-credits

These facts are verified across multiple sources including Wikipedia and IMDb.

For a detailed look at every actor who brought the Guardians to life, check out this complete cast guide across all three films.

Frequently asked questions

For anyone keeping track of Marvel’s sprawling cast, the Guardians trilogy offers one of the tightest ensembles in the MCU. Five actors anchored every film, and the additions of Mantis, Nebula (as a main), Adam Warlock, and the High Evolutionary show how James Gunn expanded the roster without losing coherence. For fans of the franchise, the cast is the heart—and the heart is those five misfits who started it all.