“I AM Groot” Vin Diesel Reflects on his Role in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”

I was blessed last month to attend the press conference and premiere for Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” held at the Walt Disney Studio’s in Burbank, California. In the movie Vin Diesel plays Groot an advanced humanoid tree creature. Although his lines are minimal the meaning of his role, to him, is inspiring and will change your entire view of this character. I though I would share with you the key question regarding his role.  Please feel free to share this will your friends by clicking on the share button’s to the right.

PRESS: Vin, did you ever have to do the acting exercise be a tree, where the teacher asks you to play a tree and did that pay off now that you are actually playing a tree?

VIN DIESEL: The phobias. The nightmares. When I was a child actor, yes, I had the fear that I was gonna be casted as the tree. This role was a way for me to face my fears head on and I’m delighted that I did.  

PRESS:  Vin, you’ve been part of a very successful franchise, you’re coming into a new universe. What is the appeal of the Marvel universe and particularly this new offshoot, Guardians of the Galaxy?

VIN DIESEL: Yes, I’m new to Marvel. I guess the whole thing started for me with a social media wave that was adamant about me doing something with Marvel. Since, there wasn’t really a six month window to do a character at Marvel. When Kevin Feige called me and said James and him were talking about me playing a role. I had no idea what role it would be until they sent over a book of conceptual art. I took the book into the living room with my kids and I asked them which character they thought daddy should play. They all pointed at the tree and I knew that was a good sign.   When I did the movie it was at a very important time because it was in December and I was coming around humans. It was my first time working again. Playing a character that celebrates life in the way that “Groot” celebrated life was very therapeutic for me in my personal life, professional life and dealing with death.  I took my kids to a screening to see this movie and they walk around the house reciting Star Lord, Gamora, and all the characters. There was something very beautiful that happened in playing this role which as an actor I would have never imagined. Now, when my kids see trees they refer to them as their brothers and sisters. The idea to be associated with trees like that is remarkable. It’s so much more gratifying than you would ever imagine. I was really lucky that this specific role came up and as I breathe life into the role I had a director that was willing to indulge me in the way that he did. I was the last person in, so I got to see all of the performances and was so blown away by each one. It felt almost too good to be true and while I was recording the three words for four days and it was wild to actually see my script because I don’t think anyone’s seen my script. But on the left hand side of the page it said, “I am Groot.” And then on the right hand side of the page, director, James Gunn took the time to write a whole paragraph about what “I am Groot” meant. It was so refreshing to see he cared so much about every little detail of that character. And unfortunately now in Hollywood there are those directors that have some contempt for actors. We’ve all experienced it in one way or another. To have a director that loves his actors is something that you can see translated and in my mind it shines through the movie.

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