Overview
- Gunn announced he is retired from performing Rocket’s on-set motion reference during a conversation recorded for The Brandon Davis Show, which was released the week of Sept. 21, 2026.
- He said the physical toll on his feet and ankles from long periods spent in a low “catcher’s crouch” and repeated pivots made the work untenable as he moved into his 50s.
- Rocket has been created through a collaborative process in the MCU: Gunn provided the on-set reference, Bradley Cooper supplied the voice, and VFX teams produced the final CGI.
- Marvel Studios has not named a replacement or confirmed whether Rocket will appear in upcoming projects, leaving the character’s on-set representation and immediate future unresolved.
- Gunn remains active in other projects, including roles in his brother James Gunn’s DC work, and he said retiring could open the door for a younger performer to take over motion‑capture duties.