Sean Gunn says he has retired from playing Rocket Raccoon on set, citing the physical strain of spending years crouched and moving like the compact Marvel character.

The actor provided Rocket’s physical reference performance throughout the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, while Bradley Cooper supplied the character’s voice. It was an effective division of labour, although Gunn appears to have received the less comfortable assignment.

Why Sean Gunn is stepping away from Rocket

Speaking on The Brandon Davis Show, Gunn said turning 50 prompted him to accept that his Rocket work was probably over.

“Since I’ve turned 50 a couple of years ago, I am retired from playing Rocket,” he said. “Not that they’ve called. But if they did, I don’t think that I could do the motion reference anymore for Rocket. I think I’m too old.”

The problem, he explained, is not primarily his knees. Years of holding a catcher’s crouch and repeatedly pivoting close to the ground have taken a toll elsewhere.

“Everyone thinks it’s my knees, but it’s really my feet and my ankles,” Gunn said. “I’m in a catcher’s crouch, and I’m pivoting a lot on my points of contact with the ground. I’m doing a lot of pivoting in my ankles and feet.”

He added that the work had “a little bit of an effect” on his body over the years and simply “hurts after a while.” Even superheroes, it turns out, have occupational health concerns.

How Gunn helped bring Rocket to the screen

Gunn performed Rocket’s on-set physical reference work in all three films directed by his brother, James Gunn. His movements and positioning gave the cast and production team a real person to interact with while filming scenes involving the digitally created raccoon.

The trilogy began with Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 followed in 2017, before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 completed the run in 2023.

Cooper remained Rocket’s recognisable voice across the films, but Gunn’s performance helped establish how the character occupied each scene. That required rather more than standing near a microphone and sounding irritated.

Sean Gunn also played Kraglin in Marvel

Gunn’s contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe was not limited to working near the floor. He also appeared on screen as Kraglin Obfonteri, a Ravager who became a recurring member of the Guardians’ extended crew.

He played Kraglin in:

  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
  • Avengers: Endgame
  • Thor: Love and Thunder
  • The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Gunn has not said he has retired from acting altogether. His declaration applies specifically to the demanding physical reference work required for Rocket. Marvel has not announced another Guardians film or indicated that it has asked him to return, a detail Gunn acknowledged himself. For now, his retirement is both firm and conveniently untested.