When most directors are tapped by Marvel to helm an entranceway in the MCU , they only have to cast one lead-in   — Tony Stark or Steve Rogers or Thor or whoever ’s at the center of that motion-picture show   — but James Gunn had the unique challenge of cast an entire squad forGuardians of the Galaxy . He   paired up with Marvel ’s casting guru Sarah Finn to choose the idealistic worker to limn the Guardians .

Two purpose that proved peculiarly difficult to cast were Drax the Destroyer , who ’s characterize bya curious blending of bestial force and deadpan humor , and Rocket , a hired gun - toting racoon whose worker necessitate a distinctive voice to impart the vocal work . Dave Bautista and Bradley Cooper turned out to be staring for the roles , but they were n’t the producers ’ first choices .

Drax: Jason Momoa

The role of Drax was offered to Jason Momoa before Marvel broadened its search and begin auditioning actors for the part . Momoa turned down the job   because he did n’t want to be typecast in action - oriented character .

Of course ,   the thespian ended up getting locked into an activity - oriented role when Zack Snyder shake off him as Aquaman in the DCEU , buthe seems to be experience a lot of fun with the character .

Rocket: Adam Sandler

One of the first actors James Gunn andGuardians ’ vagabond team considered for the function of Rocket was Adam Sandler . Sandler did a more overstated version of Rocket ’s speech pattern inThat ’s My Boy .

Many fans have comment since the consideration of Sandler was revealed that he might ’ve ruined the moving-picture show , but he ’s an undeniably funny actor and he ’s essay with role inPunch - Drunk Love , The Meyerowitz Stories , andUncut Gemsthathe can deftly handle shade when he tries .

Drax: Shad Gaspard

Before Dave Bautista was cast as Drax , the producer audition another actor who used to wrestle in the WWE : Shad Gaspard . Gaspard provided the motion seizure for Kratos in the 2018 edition ofGod of War .

Tragically , Gaspard passed away earlier this year when he and his son were pull into a rip electric current and he tell the lifeguards to make unnecessary his boy first .

Rocket: H. Jon Benjamin

During pre - production onGuardians of the Galaxy , the cast team jolly much considered every comedically gifted actor with a distinctive voice for the role of Rocket . Among those actors was H. Jon Benjamin .

Benjamin could ’ve added make for Rocket to a résumé that already includes Bob Belcher and Sterling Archer , but the producers went in another focussing with the character .

Drax: Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou , who antecedently voiced Black Panther in a shortly - lived 2010 alive serial publication , was one of the actors who try out to play Drax before the cast team found their ideal selection in Dave Bautista .

While he did n’t land the part of Drax , Hounsou was given the role of Korath the Pursuer inGuardians of the Galaxy , a function that he went on to recapitulate in the ’ ninety - set MCU prequelCaptain Marvel .

Rocket: David Tennant

David Tennant was one of the actor view to voice Rocket before Bradley Cooper was hurtle . He would eventually conjoin the MCU in the role of Kilgrave in the Netflix seriesJessica Jones .

It ’s unreadable if Tennant would ’ve play   Rocket   in his aboriginal Scottish accent or if he would ’ve strike the character ’s Cockney accent from the comic strip .

Drax: Brian Patrick Wade

Brian Patrick Wade try out to play Drax before Dave Bautista was cast . Wade certainly has the physique to pull off the character , but perhaps not the depth . He played the Alpha Werewolf Ennis onTeen Wolfand Captain Schwetje inGeneration Kill .

He is perhaps best roll in the hay to a wide hearing as Kurt , one of Penny ’s only honey interests prior to Leonard inThe Big Bang Theory .

Rocket: Jim Carrey

Hot off of retire himself from promotingKick - Ass 2 in the wake of the Sandy Hook shot , Jim Carreywas one of the first actor considered to play Rocket inGuardians of the Galaxy .

Carrey actually make his start in a comic account book movie , 1994’sThe Mask , while he attempt out vox roleplay in the animated 2008 adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classicHorton listen a Who ! , so he might ’ve been right at home in the role of Rocket .

Drax: Chadwick Boseman

Prior to the casting of Dave Bautista , the late Chadwick Boseman was one of the actors who auditioned to make for Drax inGuardians of the Galaxy .

While he probably would ’ve made a great Drax with plenitude of nuance , it ’s believably for the good that Boseman was n’t honk because it would ’ve forestall him from inspiring a generation in his eventual Marvel role as T’Challa .

Rocket: Danny DeVito

Danny DeVito was regard for the part of Rocket . Whereas Bradley Cooper has impart a New York accent to the typically Cockney character reference , DeVito would ’ve brought his blockheaded New Jersey accent to the role .

Interestingly , DeVito’sAlways Sunnyco - star Glenn Howerton was under serious thoughtfulness for the role of Peter Quill , so the dynamic of Dennis and Frank Reynolds could ’ve come to the MCU .

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Movies

Guardians of the Galaxy