Following the release of the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special today, writer-director James Gunn responded to early reviews of the television film, emphasizing that Pom Klementieff's Mantis deserves all of the praise as this project marks her full-fledged debut.
In a tweet, Gunn shared a behind-the-scenes image of Klementieff as Mantis in a Christmas get-up. The director also noted in the reply that through the special, MCU fans will understand why Mantis is her favorite character and the importance of her and Drax’s dynamic in GOTG Vol. 3.
WARNING: GOTG HOLIDAY SPECIAL SPOILERS; PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.
The holiday serves as a prequel to the upcoming Vol. 3 and sees Drax and Mantis set off on a Knowhere to Hollywood adventure to raise the spirit of their leader, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt). Following the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, Peter is left devastated without his lover and teammate Gamora (Zoe Saldana).
Drax and Mantis come up with a plan to give Peter a Christmas present in the form of kidnapping Kevin Bacon (Tremors), Peter’s hero and star of Footloose and Apollo 13. Other than being touched by the gesture, Peter ends up being affected by the fact that he has a family that’s willing to do everything for him.
In the course of the adventure, Mantis reveals that she’s a half-sister of Peter because she’s also the daughter of Ego, a secret she’s been keeping since she first joined the saga in 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2.
Prior to the revelation, Marvel had initially confirmed via a deleted scene the familial bond that Mantis and Star-Lord shared. The scene featured an intimate conversation between Drax and Mantis.
Related: Marvel Finally Reveals Star-Lord's Secret Sister
Mantis made her franchise debut in GOTG’s Vol 2, where she was introduced as the servant of villain Ego (Kurt Russell). Since then, she has been seen in battles with the Avengers and has yet to further her role.
The Christmas special is set to conclude Marvel's Phase 4 and is now streaming on Disney+.
Also Read: Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Will Not Feature Any Villain
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 premieres in theaters on May 5, 2023.
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