Only James Gunn and Vin Diesel Know What Groot Is Actually Saying

Since ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ hit cinemas with a bang in 2014, the immortal words “I am Groot” have been deeply embedded in the popular consciousness.

The extra-terrestrial sentient tree, voiced by the appropriately gravel-throated Vin Diesel, is famously only capable of saying those three words (and, as viewers will recall, one minor variation thereon) – and yet, the emotional resonance of that single phrase proves remarkable at times.

Of course, it’s understood that while “I am Groot” is all that Groot can say, the phrase takes on infinite different meanings according to intonation, which only his BFF Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) can decipher.

Still, we’d be forgiven for assuming that the real meaning of whatever Groot is actually saying is a mystery to everyone (aside from that moment when he obviously says that 12% of a plan is better than 11%) – but writer-director James Gunn has revealed that this is not the case.

Gunn, still hard at work on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2,’ took to Twitter to share the cover of a very rare edition of the Marvel sequel’s screenplay – the Groot version.

Gunn explained this draft of the script is, “The special Groot version of #GotGVol2 that only Vin Diesel & I have, where every Groot line is printed in English.”

If this was done on the sequel, it seems likely it was done on the original as well – which would certainly go some way to explaining how Diesel was able to make those three (okay, five) words have so many different resonances.

Still, as some of Gunn’s Twitter followers have pointed out, it might be a little unfair that Bradley Cooper isn’t also privy to this exclusive script, given that Rocket is the only character (thus far) who understands Groot.

Co-created by Marvel legends Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers, Groot was introduced in the pages of ‘Tales to Astonish’ in 1960. Initially villainous, he was relaunched as a hero in the ‘Annihilation: Conquest’ series in 2006, and soon thereafter joined the new line-up of the Guardians on which the movie was modelled.

It seems we’re still a long way off seeing a trailer for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2,’ but Diesel took to Facebook alongside Gunn on Friday to tell followers that he’s seen some early footage, and was “blown away” by what he saw.

Diesel heaped praise on the film’s cast (including ‘Guardians’ newcomer and new ‘Fast & Furious’ regular Kurt Russell), whilst Gunn hinted, “the first movie was about becoming a family; this one is about being a family.”

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2’ hits UK cinemas on 28 April 2017.

Picture Credit: Marvel, Twitter/James Gunn

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