Meet the New Guardians: 5 Heroes Set to Join the Team

This article contains spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the highly successful finale to James Gunn's sci-fi superhero trilogy. Fans have hailed it as one of the greatest films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it still leaves us wondering what's in store for the Guardians of the Galaxy. The mid-credits scene introduces a new team lineup, featuring Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam Warlock, and Phyla. However, the Guardians have a long comic history, and there are plenty of other members who could potentially join the team in the future. One such member is Nova.

One potential addition to the Guardians of the Galaxy team is Richard Rider, also known as Nova. In the comics, Rider starts off as a regular human teenager who is granted incredible power to continue the legacy of the destroyed Nova Corps. Initially, he embodies the bright, idealistic heroism of characters like Peter Parker and Kamala Khan. However, as he faces more challenges, Rider becomes a more tragic figure. He transforms from a hopeful young hero to a hardened leader burdened by the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders and haunted by those he failed to save. Despite his guilt, he remains committed to protecting others and will never stop fighting.

Although Richard Rider has yet to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, rumors suggest that he may receive his own solo project on Disney Plus. Whether it is a TV series or a special presentation, fans are eagerly anticipating his live-action debut. Nova has remained a fixture in the Guardians of the Galaxy comics and has formed close relationships with Star-Lord and Gamora. Given his history with the team, Nova seems like a natural fit for future Guardians of the Galaxy films.

One of the newest members to join the Guardians in Vol. 3 is Phyla, a superpowered Star Child created by the High Evolutionary. Although her current portrayal differs slightly from her comic book counterpart, Phyla is undeniably the MCU's version of Phyla-Vell, the daughter of Mar-Vell and a founding member of the Earth-616 Guardians. In the comics, Phyla is an adult Kree who is married to Moondragon, the daughter of Drax the Destroyer.

In the comics, Drax's daughter is not only alive, but also a powerful superhero with immense psychic abilities. However, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Drax's biological daughter was killed by Ronan the Accuser in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. While some fans speculated that Drax's daughter may return as Moondragon, this did not happen. Nevertheless, with Drax now taking on a fatherly role to all of the Star Children, it's possible that Moondragon could be introduced in a future film as his adopted daughter. It's even possible that she could develop a romantic relationship with an older Phyla.

Hercules is a recent addition to the Guardians roster and was unexpectedly brought on by writer Al Ewing during his acclaimed 2020 comic run. Ewing's portrayal of Hercules differs from his usual depiction as a boisterous, glory-seeking brawler, instead showing him as much older, wiser, and more responsible. It's likely that this portrayal will influence Hercules' MCU incarnation, who was introduced in the mid-credits scene of Thor: Love and Thunder and played by Brett Goldstein of Ted Lasso fame. With uncertainty surrounding Chris Hemsworth's return for a fifth Thor movie, Hercules could potentially find himself joining the Guardians instead of clashing with Thor.

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Speaking of Thor’s supporting cast, Beta Ray Bill made his debut in 1983’s The Mighty Thor #337, written and drawn by Walt Simonson. Initially an enemy, he quickly became friends with Thor after proving himself worthy of lifting Mjolnir. Bill was even granted his own enchanted hammer, Stormbreaker, by Odin. The hammer has already made its appearance in the MCU as a weapon for Thor. While he is primarily an ally of Thor, he has also been a member of the Guardians in the comics. Beta Ray Bill's origins are closely tied to Thor, making him a long shot for inclusion in the MCU, but he remains a massive fan favorite who would undoubtedly be well-received.

Another villain-turned-hero, Kl’rt (also known as the Super-Skrull) was an unusual addition to Ewing’s roster. Originally sent by the Skrull Empire to conquer Earth with the combined powers of the Fantastic Four, the Super-Skrull has a complicated history with Earth’s heroes. However, despite his antagonistic past, he ultimately joined forces with the Guardians to protect his people. While the Skrulls were initially portrayed sympathetically in Captain Marvel, they are set to play a more villainous role in Secret Invasion, which could potentially lead to the Super-Skrull fighting alongside the Guardians in the future. Although it may be some time before he makes his appearance in the MCU, it’s not impossible for this unconventional hero to join the team.