In the holiday special released in 2022, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, The Guardians of the Galaxy, now residing on Knowhere with their new member Cosmo the Spacedog, aim to lift Peter Quill’s spirits during the holiday season. Kraglin’s nostalgic Christmas tale inspires a unique plan—bringing Quill’s childhood hero, Kevin Bacon, to Knowhere.
Mantis and Drax travel to Earth, surprising Bacon in Beverly Hills. Despite his initial shock, Bacon joins the festive adventure. Returning to Knowhere, the Guardians organize a Christmas celebration for Quill, who is initially horrified by Bacon’s unexpected presence.
As festivities unfold, Quill shares with Mantis how Yondu, in a surprising twist, embraced Christmas and gifted him meaningful blasters. In a heartfelt moment, Mantis reveals her true identity as Quill’s half-sister, a revelation that brings joy and connection to the Guardians’ holiday celebration.
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7 Fun facts about The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
(1) James Gunn, director of the Holiday Special, considered it one of his all-time favourite stories. He had relentlessly pestered Kevin Feige about the idea for years before finally bringing it to life. The script, finished in April 2021, was a quick and enthusiastic creation, with the inclusion of Kevin Bacon seamlessly fitting into the festive narrative.
(2) Filmed during the production of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (2023), the Holiday Special maintains the cosmic charm of the film series while delivering a unique holiday-themed adventure.
(3) The special is set between the events of “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022) and the upcoming “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (2023), adding a festive touch to the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline.
(4) In a nod to the Soviet space dog program, Cosmo the Spacedog, typically male in the comics, is portrayed as female in the special. Maria Bakalova lends her voice to this character, drawing inspiration from Laika, the first Earth-born creature in space.
(5) In a clever twist, Kevin Bacon’s character watches “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964) at home, a film where Santa is kidnapped and taken to outer space—foreshadowing his own unexpected adventure in the special.
(6) Nebula’s gift to Rocket of Bucky Barnes’ prosthetic vibranium arm holds significance, echoing Rocket’s desire for the same arm during their joint battle in “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018).
(7) Mantis drops a bombshell when she reveals to Peter Quill that Ego, the celestial being and Peter’s father, is also her father. This revelation establishes Mantis as Peter’s half-sister, adding a familial twist to the Guardians’ holiday celebration.
