The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is an American television special written and directed by James Gunn for the streaming service Disney+, based on Marvel Comics featuring the superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy. It is the second Marvel Studios Special Presentation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films and television series of the franchise. The special was produced by Marvel Studios, and follows the Guardians of the Galaxy as they celebrate Christmas and search for a present for their leader, Peter Quill.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Based on | Marvel Comics |
Written by | James Gunn |
Directed by | James Gunn |
Starring | |
Composer | John Murphy |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Production locations |
|
Cinematography | Henry Braham |
Editors |
|
Running time | 42 minutes |
Production company | Marvel Studios |
Original release | |
Network | Disney+ |
Release | November 25, 2022 |
Related | |
Marvel Studios Special Presentations |
Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, and Michael Rooker reprise their roles as the Guardians from previous MCU media, with the special also featuring the band Old 97's and Kevin Bacon as a fictionalized version of himself. Gunn had worked on the concept for the special during the production of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) before it was announced in December 2020. Filming occurred from February to late April 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia, and Los Angeles, during the production of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was released on Disney+ on November 25, 2022, serving as the conclusion of Phase Four of the MCU. The special received positive reviews from critics for its humor, Gunn's direction, and the cast's performances. It received multiple awards nominations, including wins at the Children's and Family Emmy Awards.
Plot
editThe Guardians of the Galaxy have purchased Knowhere from the Collector and taken in Cosmo the Spacedog as a new member. As Christmas approaches, Kraglin tells the Guardians a childhood story of how Yondu ruined Christmas for Peter Quill. Mantis discusses with Drax her plan to find a perfect Christmas present for Quill, who is still depressed following the loss of Gamora.[a] After brainstorming, they decide to go to Earth and retrieve Quill's childhood hero, Kevin Bacon.
Mantis and Drax arrive in Hollywood, Los Angeles, and search for Bacon. After spending time at Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a bar, they get a map of celebrities' residences and find Bacon's home in Beverly Hills. Bacon, who is waiting for his family to come home, is terrified by the appearance of Mantis and Drax and tries to escape. Police arrive to help, but Mantis places them and Bacon in a trance before taking Bacon with them. As they return to Knowhere, Mantis and Drax are disappointed to learn that Bacon is an actor and not a real-life hero.
Later, the Guardians surprise Quill with a Christmas celebration, but Quill is horrified to learn that Bacon had been kidnapped, demanding that he be returned home. On the Guardians' new spaceship, the Bowie, Bacon learns from Kraglin how he inspired Quill's heroism and decides to celebrate Christmas with the Guardians before returning home.
After the celebration, Quill reveals to Mantis that Yondu eventually changed his mind about Christmas and gifted him a pair of blasters which now serve as his primary weapons. Mantis confides in him that she is Quill's half-sister, after years of refusing to tell him the truth out of fear of reminding him of his father Ego's misdeeds,[b] to Quill's surprise and elation.
Cast
edit- Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord:
The half-human, half-Celestial leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy who was abducted from Earth as a child and raised by a group of alien thieves and smugglers called the Ravagers.[1] Luke Klein portrays a young Quill during the animated flashback scenes, after the role was previously portrayed by Wyatt Oleff in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).[2][3] - Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer: A member of the Guardians and a highly skilled warrior whose family was slaughtered by Ronan.[1]
- Karen Gillan as Nebula:
A member of the Guardians and former Avenger who is an orphan from an alien world, and was trained by Thanos to be his personal assassin.[1] She takes on more of a leadership role within the Guardians.[4] - Pom Klementieff as Mantis: A member of the Guardians with empathic powers and Quill's half-sister.[1]
- Vin Diesel as Groot: A member of the Guardians who is a tree-like humanoid and the accomplice of Rocket.[1]
- Bradley Cooper as Rocket:
A member of the Guardians and former Avenger who is a genetically-engineered raccoon-based bounty hunter and a master of weapons and military tactics.[1] - Sean Gunn as Kraglin Obfonteri:
A member of the Guardians and Yondu Udonta's former second-in-command in the Ravagers.[5] He has become more integrated within the Guardians and "part of that family", being "a major part of [their] support system".[4] - The Old 97's as Bzermikitokolok and the Knowheremen:
An alien band on Knowhere.[6][7] Lead singer Rhett Miller portrays Bzermikitokolok, while Miller's bandmates Murry Hammond, Ken Bethea, and Philip Peeples portray band members Kortolbookalia, Sliyavastojoo, and Phloko, respectively.[7] It took the band approximately three-and-a-half hours to have their prosthetic makeup applied.[8] - Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta:
A blue-skinned buccaneer of the Ravagers and former member of the Guardians, who was a fatherly figure to Quill and died in Vol. 2.[9][10] Rooker portrays Yondu during the animated flashback scenes.[3] - Kevin Bacon as himself, an actor and Quill's childhood hero who is kidnapped by Mantis and Drax.[11]
Maria Bakalova provides the voice and additional motion capture for Cosmo the Spacedog, a member of the Guardians who is a sapient dog that developed psionic abilities after being sent into space by the Soviet Union;[12][13] Cosmo is physically portrayed by dog actor Slate, replacing Fred, who played Cosmo in the first two Guardians films.[13][14] Stephen Blackehart appears as Steemie, a denizen of Knowhere.[15] Bacon's wife Kyra Sedgwick has a voice-only role as herself.[16] Flula Borg appears as a bartender at the bar that Mantis and Drax visit in Hollywood.[17]
Production
editDevelopment
editIn December 2020, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, a television special featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy to be written and directed by James Gunn, the writer and director of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.[18][19] The Holiday Special was the first piece of content Marvel Studios planned to create for Disney+, and was originally conceived by Gunn during the production of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017);[20] at that time, it was being developed for ABC following Vol. 2's release.[21] Gunn stated that the special would be live-action and canon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU),[22] and noted that he had been a fan of the Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) and animated Christmas specials such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) as a child.[6]
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is 44 minutes long,[6] and is the second Marvel Studios Special Presentation in the MCU.[20] Marvel Studios' Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, and Brad Winderbaum, Sara Smith, and Simon Hatt serve as executive producers, alongside Gunn.[9]
Writing
editGunn called the Holiday Special "one of my favorite stories ever",[23] with a story "as crazy and fun as can be" that he had "bugged [Feige] endlessly about over the years".[22][23] Gunn finished the script in April 2021,[24] after initially writing the treatment "years ago".[24][20] It took Gunn a few hours to write the script, and he noted featuring Kevin Bacon was a quick inclusion once he had figured out the story for the special.[6]
The main cast members of the Guardians films are featured,[25] focusing on Drax the Destroyer and Mantis. Gunn decided to focus on the Drax and Mantis relationship in the special because he felt those characters had been "sidelined" in their appearances outside of the Guardians of the Galaxy films between Vol. 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). He described the two of them as "kind of like Abbott and Costello, but both are Costellos",[26] adding, "They do not have any of the values that human beings normally have, so they don't have the same boundaries that we have. They're like following an unattended fire hose around."[4] Mantis actress Pom Klementieff called the Holiday Special "very goofy and very funny and cute" while "also very rooted in something much, much deeper and more beautiful and heartfelt".[27]
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is set between Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.[24] Gunn noted there were parts of the special that would help set up material in Vol. 3,[28] calling the Holiday Special a "Trojan Horse" that allowed him to introduce important elements to Vol. 3 that he then would not need to explain at the beginning of that film. Some of this material includes filling in the Guardians recent history, such as how they now operate out of Knowhere, have a new ship called the Bowie, Cosmo the Spacedog is now a member of the Guardians, and "a couple of bigger pieces of spoiler-y lore".[26] The special has been described by Gunn as the epilogue of Phase Four of the MCU.[29]
Casting
editThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special sees Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, and Sean Gunn all reprising their MCU roles as Guardians of the Galaxy members Peter Quill / Star-Lord, Drax the Destroyer, Groot, Rocket, Nebula, Mantis, and Kraglin Obfonteri,[1][5][9] respectively, along with Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta.[9][10] Kevin Bacon was revealed to be starring in the special as a fictionalized version of himself in October 2022,[11] along with Maria Bakalova voicing Cosmo the Spacedog ahead of her role in Vol. 3.[12] Bakalova also provides additional motion capture for Cosmo, who is physically portrayed by dog actor Slate,[13] replacing dog actor Fred from Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Vol. 2.[14] The band the Old 97's also appear in the special as the alien band Bzermikitokolok and the Knowheremen,[6][7] while Bacon's wife Kyra Sedgwick has a voice cameo.[16]
Filming and animation
editFilming for the special had begun by February 2022,[30] at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia,[31][8] under the working title Pop Tart.[32][33] It occurred during the later portion of production of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,[34] which lasted from November 2021 until May 2022,[35][36] and used the same sets as that film.[37][6] Henry Braham served as cinematographer, after doing so for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Vol. 3.[38] Gunn enjoyed being able to switch to filming the special after doing scenes for Vol. 3, given the tonal difference between the two with Vol. 3 being more "emotional",[26] and called the Holiday Special shoot easier than Vol. 3.[6]
The special was originally supposed to be shot during Vol. 3's initial production time in 2019, before several production delays.[34] A day of filming in Los Angeles for the special had been expected by early January 2022, but did not occur due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant.[39] The Old 97's filmed their roles in March 2022.[8] Filming occurred around the Atlanta Country Club in late March, with various Christmas-themed decorations being used,[40] and at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on April 28, with Bautista and Klementieff. The set featured various Christmas-themed decorations and posters of Kumail Nanjiani's character Kingo from the MCU film Eternals (2021).[41] Filming of the special wrapped by the end of April.[42]
Rooker and Luke Klein filmed the material for the flashback sequences, which was animated by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios through rotoscoping in the style of Ralph Bakshi to emulate the Christmas specials from Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment.[3] Marvel had received bids from other animations studios for the sequences, but their test sequences had used more traditional animation techniques, compared to Stoopid Buddy's rotoscoping approach, which set them apart and fulfilled the look Gunn and Marvel were looking for. Animation director Mac Whiting was able to find archival recordings of how the Bakshi-style animations were made to reference and ensure the process for the Holiday Special was authentic as possible. Whiting and his team were able to be on set when Rooker and Klein were filmed to discuss with Gunn things such as how the camera would be set up, to ensure it was "simple enough for animation, but also dynamic enough so it had that big cinematic feel".[43] Stoopid Buddy added Yondu's fin and adjusted Klein's features to more resemble young Quill during animation.[3] It took 10 to 12 people about four months to complete the animation, with Stoopid Buddy working with Studio Moshi to provide additional animations.[43]
Post-production
editGreg D'Auria serves as the editor for the special,[44] while Stephane Ceretti serves as the visual effects supervisor.[45] Visual effects for the special were created by Framestore, Rodeo FX, Crafty Apes, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Industrial Light & Magic, Wētā FX, Gradient / Secret Lab, and Perception.[45]
Music
editJohn Murphy, the composer of Vol. 3, was confirmed to score the Holiday Special in January 2022.[46] The special's soundtrack, consisting of Murphy's score and two original songs, was released digitally by Hollywood Records and Marvel Music on November 23, 2022.[47]
Gunn chose the music for the Holiday Special "very early". He wrote the lyrics to the opening song, "I Don't Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here)", and approached Rhett Miller from the group the Old 97's to help him compose it.[6] "Here It Is Christmastime", an existing song of the Old 97's, was also used and re-recorded with Bacon for the end of the special.[6][48] In addition to "I Don't Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here)" and "Here It Is Christmastime", other songs featured in the special include: "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, "Dead by X-Mas" by Hanoi Rocks, "Christmas Treat" by Julian Casablancas, "Is This Christmas?" by the Wombats, "Just Like Christmas" by Low, "I Want an Alien for Christmas" by Fountains of Wayne, "Christmastime" by the Smashing Pumpkins, "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses, and "Mrs. Claus" by Little Jackie.[48]
Marketing
editIn August 2022, a Lego advent calendar set for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was revealed,[49] which was released on September 1.[50] The official trailer for the special was released on October 25, 2022. Amanda Lamadrid at Screen Rant felt the trailer offered "a wild and heartwarming romp" and "more insight as to the wild storyline". Lamadrid noted how it depicted "one of the series' classic jokes in charming fashion", particularly Peter Quill referring to Kevin Bacon as "the greatest hero on Earth" in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).[51] By November 2022, smart home company Vivint released a commercial promoting the special and their products.[52] Two episodes of the series Marvel Studios: Legends were released on November 23, 2022 on Disney+, exploring Mantis and Drax using footage from their previous MCU appearances;[53] the episodes were removed shortly after as they revealed plot details relevant to the special.[54]
Release
editThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was released on Disney+ on November 25, 2022.[11] A special screening occurred on November 18, 2022, at NeueHouse in Hollywood.[55] It is the conclusion of Phase Four of the MCU.[29]
Reception
editViewership
editWhip Media, which tracks viewership data for the more than 21 million worldwide users of its TV Time app, calculated that The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was the top-streamed film in the United States for the week ending November 27, 2022.[56][57] It was the second-most streamed for the week ending December 11,[58] and the fourth for the week ending December 18.[59]
Critical response
editThe review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 94% approval rating, with an average score of 7.7/10, based on 62 reviews. The site's critic's consensus states: "More of a stocking stuffer than a fully-rounded parcel, this yuletide excursion is a delightful showcase for Drax, Mantis, and a very game Kevin Bacon."[60] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the special a score of 82 out of 100 based on eight critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[61]
Jordan Moreau of Variety felt the special was "stuffed with funny, feel-good Christmas joy, and it's one of the best pieces of content Marvel Studios has released in years." Moreau praised James Gunn's delivery of his "signature, laugh-out-loud, zany" style in the special with a short runtime, how it "pays homage to the nostalgic tropes of Christmas specials", the depiction of Drax and Mantis, and its soundtracks and songs.[62] Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter felt that the special was "funny enough to provoke out-loud laughter and poignant enough to elicit that telltale sting behind the eyes, if not quite enough to draw full-on tears. Maybe it lacks the heft of a true Guardians feature or series, but it's exactly the holiday confection you'd want from this motley crew: shiny, fluffy and just odd enough to feel personal" and lauded the "delightfully eclectic" soundtrack. Han also felt that the special became the first Marvel Cinematic Universe entry to have a Christmas-themed story instead of setting it in December to coincide with the holiday, such as Iron Man 3 (2013) and Hawkeye (2021). However, Han noted the special being "as slick a bit of marketing as they come... to remind audiences how much we love these characters, who haven't headlined a big-screen adventure in five years [since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)]", and how it had a script "sprinkled with crumbs of awkward exposition" and was "underwritten by the kind of studio clout and money that can get a Kevin Bacon to show up and hang out with aliens for a few days."[63]
Chris Hewitt gave the special 3 out of 5 stars for Empire Online, feeling that it was "so frothy, and fun, and so clearly not intended to be taken seriously." Hewitt described the special as Guardians 2.5 "with a little Christmas riffing on the soundtrack", a "variety show with the Guardians at its centre", and a "ballsy nod" to Star Wars Holiday Special (1978). Hewitt praised Bautista and Klementieff's performances but criticized the scenes involving Bacon as "disappointingly toothless".[64] Chris Evangelista of /Film felt the special was "mighty silly and mighty light. In fact, it's so light that it's a wonder it even exists", adding that "writer-director James Gunn didn't really have enough to fill out an entire special, which means we're treated to multiple musical numbers and multiple montages to pad the runtime. At the same time, Gunn and his cast manage to slip in one final emotional beat that genuinely works." Evangelista noted that majority of the Guardians only did quick cameos, particularly Peter Quill, Rocket, and Groot, but saw Klementieff and Bautista's characters "an unlikely but very amusing pair". Evangelista also felt that Bacon was "fine, and clearly game to have fun here. But the concept of bringing [him] back for Quill is never as funny as the special seems to think it is" while criticizing the special's "predictable humor and not one but two different lengthy musical numbers that play more like time-fillers than anything else."[65]
Accolades
editAward | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
California On Location Awards | December 4, 2022 | Location Manager of the Year – Episodic Television – Half Hour | Michael Wesley | Nominated | [66][67] |
Children's and Family Emmy Awards | December 16–17, 2023 | Outstanding Fiction Special | The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special | Won | [68][69] |
Outstanding Directing For A Single Camera Program | James Gunn | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Live Action Program | John Murphy | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design | Alan Hook, Dave Scott, Sam Avila, Zach Fannin, Lorin Flemming, Brittany Hites, Alex McCarroll, Rosemary Brandenburg | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Costume Design/Styling | Judianna Makovsky | Won | |||
Outstanding Makeup and Hairstyling | Cassie Russek, Stephanie Fenner, Alexei Dmitrew, Melissa Meinhart, Scott Stoddard, LuAndra Whitehurst | Won | |||
Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Live Action Program | Heidi Moneymaker | Won | |||
Golden Trailer Awards | June 29, 2023 | Best Voice Over for a TV/Streaming Series (Trailer/Teaser/TV Spot) | The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special | Nominated | [70][71] |
Best BTS/EPK for a TV/Streaming Series (Under 2 Minutes) | The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special | Won | |||
Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | February 11, 2023 | Best Period and/or Character Makeup – Television Special, One Hour or More Live Program Series | Michael Ornelaz, Matt Sprunger, Jon Moore, Robin Pritchard | Won | [72] |
Best Special Makeup Effects – Television Special, One Hour or More Live Program Series | Alexei Dmitriew, Scott Stoddard, LuAndra Whitehurst, Mo Meinhart | Won | |||
Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling – Television Special, One Hour or More Live Program Series | Cassie Russek, Amber Shani Hamilton, Sean Smith, Dugg Kirkpatrick | Nominated |
Notes
edit- ^ As depicted in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- ^ As depicted in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Oddo, Marco Vito (October 20, 2021). "Will Poulter Comments on Adam Warlock Casting for 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3': "I Feel Very Lucky"". Collider. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Bazter, Joseph (November 27, 2022). "Why The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Has Animated Segments". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Romanchick, Shane (November 29, 2022). "'Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special': James Gunn Breaks Down Animated Sequences With BTS Image". Collider. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ a b c Coggan, Devan (November 23, 2022). "How James Gunn embraced Christmas chaos with the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Anderton, Joe (May 18, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special won't feature the whole team". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Davids, Brian (November 18, 2022). "James Gunn Talks Writing 'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special' in Just a Few Hours and the Latest on His Final 'Guardians' Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c Seibold, Witney (November 25, 2022). "Who Is The Alien Band In The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special?". /Film. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ a b c Bethea, Ken (November 22, 2022). "An Out of This World Old 97's Show". D Magazine. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Paige, Rachel (October 25, 2022). "Unwrap the 'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special' Trailer". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Perry, Spencer (October 25, 2022). "Former Guardians of the Galaxy Star to Return in New Holiday Special". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c Woerner, Meredith (October 25, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy Kidnap Kevin Bacon in 'Holiday Special' Trailer, Coming in November". Variety. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Taylor, Drew (October 25, 2022). "'Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special' Trailer Features Christmas Cheer With Kevin Bacon (Video)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c Joliff, Lucy (November 26, 2022). "Marvel's Goldens Team Up as Cosmo Canine Actor Meets Hawkeye's Lucky". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Fullerton, Huw (April 30, 2017). "The 11 best Easter eggs in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2". Radio Times. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ Campbell, Christopher (November 28, 2022). "GOTG Xmas Special Continues James Gunn's Long Casting Record". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Johnson, Zach (November 21, 2022). "Kevin Bacon Unwraps The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special". D23. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Young, Kai (November 25, 2022). "Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special Cast & Cameo Guide". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ Dinh, Christine (December 10, 2020). "James Gunn Returns to Write and Direct 'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special' Ahead of 'Guardians of the Galaxy 3'". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ Petski, Denise (December 10, 2020). "'Guardians Of The Galaxy' Holiday Special, Baby Groot Series Set For Disney+". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ a b c Graves, Sabina (November 18, 2022). "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Was the First Marvel Studios Project Created for Disney+". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 25, 2022). "'Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special': James Gunn On How Disney+ Show Bridges Franchise To Upcoming 'Vol. 3'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Barnhardt, Adam (December 11, 2020). "James Gunn Confirms Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Is Canon". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ a b Gunn, James [@JamesGunn] (December 10, 2020). "Even seeing this here makes me laugh. One of my favorite stories ever, which I have bugged @Kevfeige endlessly about over the years. I can't believe we're actually doing this. And, yes, I unironically loved the Star Wars Holiday Special as a kid" (Tweet). Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c Davis, Brandon (April 22, 2021). "Guardians Of The Galaxy Director Finishes Holiday Special Script". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ Vary, Adam B. (December 23, 2020). "How Marvel Studios Is Reassembling for 2021 and Beyond". Variety. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c Davis, Brandon (November 18, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special's Vol. 3 Connections Revealed (Exclusive)". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (November 17, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy Vet: Disney+ Holiday Special Is Both 'Goofy' and 'Heartfelt' (and Has a Big Reveal)". TVLine. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ Chitwood, Adam (July 27, 2021). "James Gunn Says the 'Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special' Contains "Stuff You Need to Learn Before 'Vol. 3'"". Collider. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ^ a b Barnhardt, Adam (August 1, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy Helmer Confirms Holiday Special Is Phase 4". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ Travis, Ben (February 15, 2022). "Zoe Saldana On The 'Bittersweet' Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3: 'James Gunn Has Written A Beautiful Story' – Exclusive". Empire. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ Ho, Rodney (October 25, 2022). "Briefs: Fox News' Bret Baier in Georgia to interview Kemp, Walker; 'Black Adam' opening; 'Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special' trailer". The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- ^ "Production Weekly – Issue 1270 – Thursday, October 28, 2021 / 143 Listings – 31 Pages". Production Weekly. October 28, 2021. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- ^ Ho, Rodney (January 15, 2022). "What's filming in Georgia in January 2022?". The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Reid, Claire (June 10, 2021). "Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Will Start Filming In November". LADbible. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ Scott, Ryan (November 8, 2021). "Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Has Begun Filming As James Gunn Shares Image From The Set". /Film. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ Jirak, Jamie (May 6, 2022). "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Wraps Filming". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
- ^ Collis, Clark (July 16, 2021). "James Gunn says Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will be a 'heavier' story". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ Gunn, James [@JamesGunn] (April 25, 2021). "Henry Braham!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ King, Jack (January 11, 2022). "James Gunn on 'Guardians of the Galaxy 3' and the 'Holiday Special'; Says Sequel Is "Different Than What People Are Going to Expect"". Collider. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ Hogan, Madison (March 24, 2022). "Mystery movie filming at Atlanta Country Club may be Marvel film". Marietta Daily Journal. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022. – via Yahoo! (archive)
- ^ Phillips, TC (April 29, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy Set Photos Reveal Unexpected Eternals Easter Egg". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
- ^ Lutz, John (May 1, 2022). "'Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special' Wraps Filming". Collider. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
- ^ a b Ryan, Danielle (December 9, 2022). "The Animators Behind The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special Knew They Were Making Magic [Exclusive Interview]". /Film. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ Weinstein, Molly Jae (April 16, 2022). "James Gunn Agrees With Karen Gillan Over GOTG Holiday Special Comments". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Frei, Vincent (October 26, 2022). "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special". Art of VFX. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ Flook, Ray (January 15, 2022). "James Gunn on Peacemaker E08 & Spoilers; GOTG Holiday Special Update". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ "'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special' Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. November 22, 2022. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Perine, Aaron (November 22, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Track List Released". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Deboer, Riley (August 1, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy LEGO Set May Offer First Holiday Special Clues". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ Roberts, Tyler (August 22, 2022). "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Getting Special LEGO Set". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Lamadrid, Amanda (October 25, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy Kidnap Kevin Bacon In Holiday Special Trailer". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Barnhardt, Adam (November 2, 2022). "New Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Ad Shows Return to Earth". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Scott, Ryan (November 23, 2022). "Superhero Bits: Clarity On Henry Cavill's Superman Contract, The Power Rangers Tribute To Jason David Frank & More". /Film. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ Anderton, Joe (November 24, 2022). "Guardians of the Galaxy episode removed from Disney+ after it spoils Holiday Special". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ Malkin, Marc (November 21, 2022). "Taylor Swifts Shows Off Her American Music Awards, Ryan Reynolds Walks the Red Carpet With His Mom and More of November's Best Party Pics – Sean Gunn and Pom Klementieff". Variety. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Prange, Stephanie (November 30, 2022). "'Guardians' Holiday Special, 'Andor' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts". Media Play News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ Estelhomme, Barry (December 13, 2022). "10 Iconic Blockbuster Movie Directors Who Transitioned Seamlessly To TV". Collider. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ Prange, Stephanie (December 13, 2022). "'Bullet Train', 'Wednesday' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts". Media Play News. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ Prange, Stephanie (December 21, 2022). "'Black Adam,' 'Wednesday' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts". Media Play News. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ Moreau, Jordan (November 23, 2022). "James Gunn Brings Hilarious, Holiday Hijinks in Instantly Classic 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Special: TV Review". Variety. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ Han, Angie (November 23, 2022). "'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special' Review: Disney+'s Delightful Standalone". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ Hewitt, Chris (November 24, 2022). "The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special Review". Empire Online. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ Evangelista, Chris (November 23, 2022). "The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special Review: A Light, Frothy Bit Of Seasonal Silliness". /Film. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Finalists Announced for 2022 California on Location Awards". PR Newswire (Press release). Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ "2022 California On Location Awards Winners". California On Location Awards. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (November 2, 2023). "Children's & Family Emmys 2023 Nominees Announced, as NATAS Works Out Ceremony Plans (Full List)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (December 16, 2023). "Children's & Family Creative Arts Emmys 2023 Full Winners List: Disney+, Netflix Lead Night 1". Variety. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (June 5, 2023). "Golden Trailer Awards Nominations List: Stranger Things, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ted Lasso & Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Among Most Nominated". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (June 29, 2023). "Golden Trailer Awards: Cocaine Bear, Only Murders In The Building & Oppenheimer Among Top Winners – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ Giardina, Carolyn (February 11, 2023). "Elvis Collects Pair of Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.