Rocket Raccoon is set to become cinema's coolest ever anthropomorphic characters when he makes his big-screen debut in James Gunn's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' later this summer.
But ahead of the Marvel epic's summer release the director has looked to big up the loveable rogue by revealing further dollops of information regarding his importance and influences, withComicBookMovie.com reporting that he has conducted a number of interviews on the beast.
Gunn firstly discussed Rocket's traits via a rather unusual source though, deciding that the British magazine Small Furry Pets, which, as you'd expect, focuses on miniature hairy animals, was the perfect publication for his first interview since principal photography wrapped on the film.
Gunn recanted, "We needed a raccoon to study how he looked and his behaviour, so that our on-screen raccoon, which is generated through CGI will be realistic."
The cult filmmaker then revealed the influences behind the gun-totting creature, remarking, "Our Rocket is based on a combination of our voice actor, Bradley Cooper, our on-set actor, my brother Sean Gunn, the movements and behaviour and look of Oreo, as well as my own animation…"
Gunn then went on to praise Cooper to the hilt, explaining, "Bradley is one of those actors that can do drama and comedy equally well. He can do character work as well as being a leading man. These are important qualities in the role of Rocket, which is a lot more dramatic than you might think."
Small Furry Pets decided to probe Gunn further by asking what it was like working with animals on set, and if the old adage 'never work with kids and animals' is applicable, to which he responded, "In general, I enjoy working with kids and animals. We have a child in our film, Wyatt Oleff, who is one of the most naturally talented actors in the film - and this is a movie with Glenn Close and Benicio Del Toro. I've never had a problem with kids."
However, he did admit that he doesn't believe that the creatures are the most talented thespians in the world though, noting, "Animals on the other hand - I love them more than anything- but they are, in general, terrible actors. They usually do what they want."
Gunn also confirmed that Rocket is "the heart of the movie" in a discussion with Total Film, adding, "He is most representative of the Guardians in the fact that he's this little mangled beast that was taken and experimented on and torn apart and put back together, and we have to feel that character's soul. If we see his plight, and see why he's such an angry little guy, then the movie will work."
Gunn has made no secret of the fact that Rocket is the most integral piece of the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' jigsaw, and it's good to hear that his quirky approach to the character's look and portrayal is in keeping with his unique directing style.
'Guardians of the Galaxy' will be in British cinemas on Friday August 1st, and anticipation ahead of its release is currently at a fever pitch.
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