Director James Gunn clarifies the Disney+ Marvel show I Am Groot's relationship to the MCU timeline. Gunn first introduced the titular tree in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. The hit movie was a massive milestone for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, proving that whackier, lesser-known comics titles could make box-office gains that rival household names like Captain America and Hulk. The lovable sentient plant became a merchandising goldmine for Marvel over the following years and returned in the MCU in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

As part of the slate of Disney+ projects announced for Marvel, Groot was given his own solo-venture in the form of the I Am Groot spinoff show. Following Gunn’s recent work on Peacemaker and the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the director has shifted his focus to promoting the Groot-centric series online. One of the biggest talking points surrounding the show is how it will connect to the films featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy. The crew was last seen flying off after saving humanity from Thanos alongside the Avengers, and they will pop up again in this summer’s Thor: Love and Thunder, with the Norse god having ed them for their next adventure.

Related: Guardians Of The Galaxy: Groot’s Removed Arms Made No Sense

On Sunday, Disney+ revealed the I Am Groot release date as August 10, sharing it along with a poster depicting Baby Groot sunbathing in a beachside plant-pot diorama. As he often does, Gunn took to Twitter to answer fans' questions about the project. Asked if I Am Groot would take place before or after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the director clarifies that the animated shorts aren't necessarily part of the Guardians' saga. Check out the original tweet below:

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The surprise comments seem to imply the project may not be part of the MCU canon at all, though this would explain the presence of Baby Groot, considering that the character has already grown back into a more adolescent-sized tree. Groot voice actor Vin Diesel recently teased an expansion of “The Groot Universe” while recording dialogue for mystery MCU projects earlier this year. As it stands, the status of I Am Groot seems loosely connected to the films, but will seemingly not have an effect on the character’s action in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Fans may be disheartened to learn the new project is seemingly outside of the MCU timeline, but Groot fans will still flock to see the short-story-style adventures of the loveable hero. It’s not beyond possibility that the series could be viewed alongside the MCU in a similar way to the Netflix Marvel Defenders shows, with Daredevil being officially welcomed back into the canon following Charlie Cox’s cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Whether canon or not, I Am Groot will be sure to give fans of the sentient tree plenty of joy when it drops later this summer on Disney+.

Next: Thor: Love & Thunder Trailer Reveals How Big The Guardians’ Role Really Is

Source: James Gunn/Twitter

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