Guardians of the Galaxy 2’s Baby Groot isn’t the original Groot but a new Groot. Confused? So are Groot

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RIP Groot. We hardly knew ye. That’s right, everyone’s favourite name-spouting anthropomorphic tree actually (kinda) died in Guardians of the Galaxy and Baby Groot, his replacement, is actually a new Groot. Has that left you scratching your head? Don't worry,  James Gunn has cleared it up.

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In an exclusive with SFX Magazine, the Guardians director revealed that Baby Groot is a different character because the first Groot shuffled off his mortal soil, “Groot’s sacrifice at the end of the movie means something. It’s not a meaningless sacrifice. He sacrificed himself for these people he loves.”

“And Baby Groot is not Groot,” Gunn explains, “He’s a different character and he does not have that character’s memories. He’s stupid – he’s a baby, he’s an idiot! So changing that character to Baby Groot was a hugely important element in crafting this story.

Well, uhh, that’s actually sort of tragic? It’s certainly made me look at the first Guardians movie in a whole new light. I’m off to have a cry now.

Bradley Russell
Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.