Marvel actor Sean Gunn officially bids farewell to Rocket Raccoon

Marvel actor Sean Gunn has officially bid farewell to the role of Rocket Raccoon, the hero he portrayed in the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers franchises.

After appearing in five films and a holiday special, Gunn stated that he is now “too old” to continue performing the motion-capture work for the beloved Rocket Raccoon—a character voiced by Bradley Cooper during post-production.

In an interview with podcast host Brandon Davis, the actor explained that he decided to retire from the role after turning 50, noting that the prolonged crouching required to play the character had begun to take a toll on his physical well-being. On set, Gunn frequently had to move around while crouching beside other Marvel actors, maintaining a stance he described as a “catcher’s squat.” Fortunately, Gunn didn’t have to squat all day long; he also played Kraglin, a Ravager who eventually became an official member of the Guardians of the Galaxy by the end of the sci-fi series, allowing Gunn to at least stand up and stretch his legs.

Discussing the physical strain of playing Rocket Raccoon, Gunn said: “People assume it’s my knees, but it’s actually mostly my feet and ankles. Because I’m constantly in that catcher’s squat—and often relying on points of contact with the ground to pivot—my ankles and feet have to do a lot of rotating. Over the years, I feel like that has really taken a toll on my body.”

As for when we might see Rocket Raccoon again? It is hard to say. Marvel has not yet confirmed specific future plans for the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. While the team remains immensely popular, their story has reached a natural conclusion: Gamora has left with the Ravagers; Drax and Nebula are caring for a group of children; and Mantis has set off to find her own path.

The ending of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 established a brand-new team led by Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Kraglin, joined by Adam Warlock, Cosmo the Spacedog, and Phyla. It remains unclear whether the aforementioned characters will return to the MCU in the future, and the likelihood of another Guardians of the Galaxy film being released in the near term appears low, given that the franchise’s writer-director, James Gunn, is now heading up the DCU.