Exclusive Insights from the Mind Behind Groot: Season 2 Surprises and Expanding the Guardians of the Galaxy Universe

Summary

Baby Groot is back in the all-new I Am Groot shorts, featuring five exciting mini adventures full of mischief and mayhem.

I Am Groot Season 2, written and directed by Kirsten Lepore, featuring the return of Vin Diesel as Groot, will be streaming on Disney+ starting September 6th. Kirsten Lepore shares insights into the creative process behind I Am Groot, highlighting the creative liberties granted by Marvel and the potential for incorporating additional Guardians in future episodes.

Fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy can continue to indulge in the mischievous and thrilling escapades of Baby Groot through the captivating I Am Groot shorts. These all-new mini adventures feature the lovable Baby Groot, as he embarks on five exciting escapades. In the initial season, Groot stumbles upon a tiny alien village, engages in a lively dance-off with a replica of himself, and crafts an explosive art project to impress Rocket.

The incredible creative genius behind each I Am Groot short is none other than creator Kirsten Lepore, while the talented Vin Diesel reprises his iconic role as Groot. Additionally, Bradley Cooper returns as the beloved Rocket Raccoon in the first season. Prepare yourself for the highly anticipated Season 2 of I Am Groot, arriving on Disney+ on September 6th.

Kirsten Lepore Talks I Am Groot Season 2

Screen Rat: Kirsten, congratulations on the success of I Am Groot season 2! I absolutely adored season one, and I must say that season two maintains that enchanting charm and vibrant energy. It is truly extraordinary! Did having insight into the character that Groot ultimately becomes influence the creative direction of the shorts in season 2?

Kirsten Lepore: From the start of production, both seasons were developed separately and kept secret from each other. There wasn't much collaboration between the two. In season one, we had the freedom to experiment, and our goal for season two was to make it even stranger and more intense, especially with the inclusion of Groot.

In season one, we had a fantastic cameo from Bradley Cooper as Rocket. For this season, we also have another amazing cameo, but I won't give any spoilers. How did this come about, and when did you guys find out about the special guest appearing in episode 5?

Kirsten Lepore: We definitely had an idea early on because we would pitch around 30 different episode loglines. The executives then selected the ones they liked most, and that's how we ended up with our five episodes. The episode you mentioned was one of their choices, so they gave us their blessing to pursue it because they knew he could be involved. It was really exciting for us as writers because we had the opportunity to come up with some fun and ridiculous things for our guest cameos.

It's a great connection to the MCU and serves as a fun link. You mentioned that you wrote about 30 different loglines, but so far, we've only seen a total of 10 episodes. Does this mean there's potential for seasons 3, 4, 5, 6, and beyond?

Kirsten Lepore: It depends on whether they want to include all of them, but we have plenty of ideas. We have a whole list of potential characters.

That's amazing. I really enjoyed Rocket's character in the first season. Are you considering introducing more Guardians into I Am Groot as the series continues?

Kirsten Lepore: That would be super cool. We definitely have had this tradition, I guess at this point, of having one special guests each season. So who knows?

It's astonishing. What do you believe attracts so many individuals to Baby Groot? Personally, I perceive him as the ultimate representation of Groot at this stage. So, what do you think causes this magnetic attraction to Baby Groot?

Kirsten Lepore: He's effortlessly relatable, especially for children. We have all experienced the same as kids. Regardless of who we are as adults now, we've all been impulsive, mischievous, and curious children. And that's Groot. That's his essence. We see that inner child of Groot within ourselves, making it highly relatable.

Absolutely. From I Am Groot's first season, what did you learn that influenced the second season?

Kirsten Lepore: We learned everything. In the first season, we were trying to figure things out from scratch. It was also one of Marvel animations, the second show after What If...? So, we established our entire process and became familiar with the character through writing season one. By the time we reached season two, we were in full motion, operating efficiently like a well-oiled machine. Continuing with season two was truly enjoyable, and we were able to step back and ask, "How can we improve upon these even more the second time around?" It was a thrilling experience.

Which episode was your favorite from season 1, and which episode are you most excited for audiences to discover in season 2?

Kirsten Lepore: It's a tough choice. I believe my favorite from season 1 might be the bathing episode, although I can't recall its exact title. I affectionately refer to it as "Groot Takes A Bath" due to its playful and silly nature. As for season 2, I am genuinely proud of all five episodes, making it difficult to choose a favorite.

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One particular highlight for me is when Groot demonstrates his parenting skills, which I find quite relatable. Another aspect that sparks my excitement is our snow episode, primarily because of the intriguing villain involved. We were genuinely thrilled about the presence of that villain. Furthermore, the absurdity of Groot acquiring a schnoz brings me joy, and I appreciate that they allowed us to explore such comedic elements.

Now, could you share insights on the creative process behind developing "I Am Groot"? How much involvement do James Gunn and Kevin Feige have in shaping the stories and outlines?

Kirsten Lepore: We are given a great deal of creative freedom, allowing us to come up with loglines from any perspective we choose. We brainstorm ideas freely, and then the final selection is mainly based on the five choices they make. This level of trust and freedom has made this project a fantastic experience for our team. They believe in us and fully support our vision, allowing us to have fun and explore unconventional ideas. It was surprising to see that they chose the episode about the nose from our loglines, as it was the last one I expected them to pick. However, even throughout the process, Brad, one of our top executives, remains highly fond of that episode. To me, it's the strangest one. This just goes to show how amazing these people are, allowing us to push boundaries.

I adore these! They evoke a reminiscent feeling of the Pixar shorts, albeit with a Marvel twist. You've successfully delved into the world of I Am Groot through captivating seasons one and two. Are there any other Marvel characters you yearn to delve into using this captivating storytelling approach?

Kirsten Lepore: Choosing is quite challenging for me. Groot holds a special place in my heart. I consider myself fortunate that they approached me specifically for Groot. To be honest, I didn't have much knowledge about superheroes before working on this project. However, now I have gained extensive knowledge. When they mentioned, "It's a superhero who is a tree," I thought, "That's absolutely perfect for me!" So, Groot has become like my own child. I believe he is the one and only for me.

Which characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe would you like to see Groot interact with?

That sounds absolutely fantastic! It's truly amazing! In this season, we have an episode that captures the essence of Indiana Jones, paying homage to this classic film. This particular episode features a special guest star. Are there any other timeless movies or captivating stories that you envision exploring within the I Am Groot genre?

Kirsten Lepore: It was a significant source of inspiration for us, and it was a lot of fun. There have been several episodes where we had the opportunity to incorporate different genres. In fact, even in season one, we had a touch of horror. Although in season two, we didn't delve as deeply into the various genres as we did before, there is always the chance to explore different corners of the galaxy. Sometimes, our protagonist is just playing in his room, comfortably within his element. However, there are other times when we get to create an entire Snow World, which inevitably reminds me of Star Wars.

Yes, exactly! Hoth, right?

Kirsten Lepore reveals her immense love for Star Wars, implying that her fondness for the franchise may have subconsciously influenced her work. She had not even realized this until the current discussion, where she acknowledges that the snowy episode might have been somehow influenced by the iconic Empire.

Are you guys ever mindful of what the other Guardians are up to while Groot is off having his solo adventures?

Kirsten Lepore: Oh yeah, I just remembered that we actually have a post-credits cameo. I always seem to forget about it. Was it Rocket in the post-credits cameo? We kept changing it. Now I can't recall what it was. It involved hot cocoa. I keep forgetting that we had this little hidden surprise in there. I think it's the kind of thing where we always imagined that they're just out of sight, in the background.

Speaking of Muppet Babies, sometimes we only see their feet, which is like the parents in Muppet Babies. We imagine they are nearby, maybe even saying a few lines off camera. In one episode, Drax was shown taking a shower. The parents are always present, but Drax is more like a latchkey kid, doing his own thing while they remain in the background. It's interesting how Groot used Drax's soap with his nose, and I find these episodes truly remarkable. As for the upcoming five episodes in season two, and the possibility of a season three, would you prefer to stick with the same format of five-minute shorts, or would you consider expanding the season?

Kirsten Lepore: I'm uncertain about their future plans. Yeah, there isn't much I can comment on as it has the potential to evolve into a larger project. It might simply remain as five short films. I don't mean just as in insignificant; creating five shorts is actually quite enjoyable. Yeah, it's ultimately up to those in power.

About I Am Groot Season 2

In the sequel of I Am Groot, the mischievous twig is back to cause trouble. This time, Baby Groot embarks on a cosmic adventure alongside the Guardians, as they travel through space, encountering captivating creatures and vibrant environments. Get ready to witness new and exciting encounters as Baby Groot explores the vast universe!

I Am Groot season 2 premieres on Disney+ on September 6.

Source: Screen Rant Plus