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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The “leak” in this headline was an unverified rumor reported by BGR on December 9, 2022—not a Marvel announcement. The released film shares some of the reported broad strokes, but its actual ending gives the Guardians different fates and a new leader: Rocket.
What the 2022 plot-leak report claimed
BGR’s Chris Smith reported that a post on the MarvelStudiosSpoilers subreddit contained a Google-Translated version of a leak found elsewhere online. BGR cautioned that “There’s no way to verify the legitimacy of this leak, which is what we always tell you about MCU plot leaks.” The claims should therefore be read as rumor, not confirmed production information. BGR’s December 9, 2022 report said the leak alleged that:
![Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 (Bonus Features Included) [Blu-ray] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51K9wxbVpNL._SL160_.jpg)
![Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51b9Ylc4IEL._SL160_.jpg)
![Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 [Blu-ray] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51X6DFhSzeL._SL160_.jpg)
![Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 [4K UHD + Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sIGWixTBL._SL160_.jpg)
- Adam Warlock would initially oppose the Guardians.
- Rocket would suffer a severe injury, prompting the team to seek help connected to the High Evolutionary.
- Drax would die.
- Gamora would leave with the Ravagers.
- Rocket would lead a new Guardians team.
- The film would end with a group dance.
BGR also speculated about a possible future connection to the Annihilators; that was the outlet’s speculation, not a verified part of the alleged leak.
What the film was officially about
Disney’s official UK press kit framed the story around Peter Quill grieving Gamora and rallying the Guardians to protect one of their own. It said the mission could bring the end of the Guardians as audiences knew them. The kit lists James Gunn as writer-director and gives the UK cinema release date as May 3, 2023. Disney’s UK press kit provides that premise.
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In a May 2023 retrospective, Disney identified Rocket’s past and the High Evolutionary as central to the story. Gunn said Rocket’s origins and identity were at its core, describing the trilogy’s arc as the story of the mother, then the father, and finally “the self.” Disney’s retrospective and creator comments also called the movie the trilogy’s third and final entry.
Did the reported leak match the released film?
The released film does not validate the old report: BGR could not verify the leak, and the similarities below are comparisons with the rumor, not proof of its source or authenticity. TIME’s May 5, 2023 post-release account describes the film’s closing character outcomes and credits scenes. TIME’s ending explainer reports the following:
| Subject | What the 2022 report alleged | What the released film shows |
|---|---|---|
| Rocket | He would be severely injured and later lead a new team. | Rocket survives and becomes leader of the new Guardians lineup. |
| Drax | He would die. | He survives, remains on Knowhere and helps care for children rescued from the High Evolutionary’s ship. |
| Gamora | She would leave with the Ravagers. | She returns to the Ravagers. |
| Original team | Rocket would lead a new team. | Quill hands leadership to Rocket as the original members take separate paths. |
| Ending | A group dance would close the movie. | The film’s reported closing developments include the team splitting up; the specific group-dance claim is not established by TIME’s account. |
Adam Warlock is also part of the new lineup shown in the mid-credits scene, alongside Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo and Phyla-Vell. The post-credits scene returns to Quill on Earth with his grandfather and ends with the words “Star-Lord Will Return.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the Guardians’ story ends
Quill leaves Knowhere for Earth to spend time with his grandfather. Nebula and Drax stay behind to care for the rescued children, Gamora goes back to the Ravagers, and Mantis leaves to choose her own path. Rocket leads a new team, whose members appear in the mid-credits scene. These are the released film’s outcomes, as recounted by TIME, rather than confirmation that the 2022 rumor was authentic.
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