In honor of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which opens on Friday May 5^th, here is a look at the journey of Groot.

MASSIVE SPOILERS

Groot is a tree like being that only says, “I Am Groot.” Groot and Rocket Racoon (Bradley Cooper) have been quite a team for a long time before they meet up with Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and Drax (Dave Bautista). Groot sacrifices himself in order to protect Rocket and the other Guardians from impact. After the Guardians defeat Ronan (Lee Pace) Groot is reborn as a Baby Groot.

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Rocket looks out for Baby Groot who is only a few months old. Due to Baby Groot’s size, he is typically on Rocket’s shoulder. Baby Groot also doesn’t understand speech completely so The Guardians play the role of parents to him. In one of the credit-scenes there is a time jump to a teenage Groot who is more grown.

In Avengers: Infinity War Groot and Rocket go off with Thor (Chris Hemsoworth) to see Eitri (Peter Dinklage) who can make Thor a new weapon after his hammer, Mjolnir was destroyed. Groot is instrumental in completing the weapon called Storm Breaker which saves Thor’s life. Groot, Rocket, and Thor head to Wakanda to help fight The Black Order, while the remaining Guardians fight Thanos (Josh Brolin) on Titan. Eventually Thanos arrives in Wakanda to retrieve the final Infinity Stone, the Mind Stone. Thanos succeeds in getting the Mind Stone and uses the gauntlet to wipe out half of the universe. Groot, along with other heroes blip out of existence leaving Rocket and Nebula (Karen Gillan) as the only Guardians left.

In Avengers: Endgame Groot is brought back along with the rest of the fallen heroes to fight Thanos and his army.

In Thor: Love and Thunder, Groot and the Guardians part ways with Thor who goes off on his own adventure.

In The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Groot celebrates Christmas with the rest of the Guardians.

Where will Groot’s journey take him in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? Groot has been through so much and audiences have watched Groot grow up. If Rocket dies in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, what future could Groot have? Can there be a future for Groot without Rocket or is Rocket’s future tied to Groot’s? I am sure there will be a definitive answer. I am curious to see where Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will take Groot, especially now that he is much older.