Marvel Confirms 9-Year Old Groot Easter Egg, Fans Go Wild!

Groot's home planet and species of origin in the MCU have finally been confirmed in the latest episode of Secret Invasion. Despite being an unexpected name to appear, Groot was briefly mentioned in episode 2 of the MCU Phase 5 series, which premiered on Disney+ on June 28, 2023. As Secret Invasion's storyline unfolds, more details about the Skrull rebellion's plans are being revealed, with Groot set to play a significant role in the transformation of Kingsley Ben-Adir's Gravik into a powerful villain inspired by Marvel Comics.

Groot first appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014 as one of the team's original members. Voiced by Vin Diesel, Groot is depicted as a companion to Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper. Guardians of the Galaxy included various nods to the team's Marvel Comics history, such as mentioning Lylla the Otter, referencing Rocket's origins in Halfworld, and revealing Gamora as the last surviving member of the Zehoberei people. While some of these Easter eggs have been changed (Rocket's origin and the status of Gamora's race), Secret Invasion episode 2, titled "Promises," has now confirmed hints about Groot's origins in the MCU.

Groot's Species & Home Planet Confirmed After GOTG Easter Egg

After the Guardians of the Galaxy are arrested on Xandar in the 2014 film, each member takes a mugshot. The mugshots reveal information about their backgrounds, which included numerous Easter eggs. However, Groot's origins as a member of the Flora Colossus species from Planet X were not further explored until the second episode of Secret Invasion. In this episode, G'iah, played by Emilia Clarke, accesses the Skrulls' computer system and discovers various forgotten plot points from the MCU's history. Among these is Groot, confirming that he is indeed a Flora Colossus from Planet X. This confirmation finally establishes Groot's origins as canon, nine years after they were initially hinted at in Guardians of the Galaxy.

How The Skrulls Got A Sample From Groot

The implication of Secret Invasion was that the Skrull rebellion had collected DNA samples from the items on the list. While it is clear how they obtained some of these samples, the origin of Groot's DNA remains a mystery. Obtaining the Frost Beast's DNA was likely straightforward as it was abandoned on Earth in the post-credits scene of Thor: The Dark World. Cull Obsidian's severed hand was likely recovered and handled by the Department of Damage Control after Avengers: Infinity War. Although Extremis was shown to be unstable in Iron Man 3, it was proven to be stable in certain individuals, making it easily acquirable for the Skrulls.

Due to Groot's frequent involvement in cosmic adventures with the Guardians of the Galaxy, his time spent on Earth has been limited, suggesting that he would not have left behind many DNA samples. However, Groot did participate in the Battle of Wakanda during Avengers: Infinity War, alongside Thor and Rocket. Given the violent nature of this battle, it is highly plausible that Groot may have inadvertently left behind some twigs that the Skrulls were able to utilize as DNA samples. The question of how the Skrulls distinguished between Flora Colossus and ordinary tree twigs remains unanswered, but their success in obtaining Groot's DNA seems undeniable.

What Do The Skrulls Want With Groot's DNA?

The Skrulls have been collecting DNA from beings from other dimensions for some time, but their reasons for doing so in Secret Invasion remain undisclosed. However, fans familiar with Marvel Comics may speculate that the notorious Super Skrull could make an appearance. First introduced in Fantastic Four #18 in 1963, the Super Skrull is a Skrull warrior who gained the abilities of the Fantastic Four. Since the Fantastic Four have not been introduced in the MCU yet, Marvel Studios has had to be strategic in selecting the DNA samples to create the Super Skrull. In Secret Invasion trailers, it is revealed that Gravik will assume the role of the Super Skrull, showcasing stretching powers similar to Groot's limb extension. This substitution for Reed Richards, or Mister Fantastic, helps explain the Skrulls' interest in Groot's DNA. Other DNA samples, such as Cull Obsidian for enhanced strength, Extremis for heat powers like Johnny Storm's, and the Frost Beast for additional impressive abilities, contribute to forming the Super Skrull. Although Gravik has yet to become the Super Skrull in Secret Invasion, Groot will play a significant role in the creation of this new villain in the MCU.