Guardians Of The Galaxy's James Gunn Explains The Reveal Of Peter Quill's Father

To many fans' surprise, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 director James Gunn revealed the true parentage of Peter Quill which has been a large mystery since the final moments of the original film. During the Hall H panel at San Diego Comic Con on Friday though, Marvel Studios proudly revealed Ego the Living Planet as Star-Lord's dad and he's being portrayed by Kurt Russell in the sequel.

After the panel, ComicBook.com had the chance to speak with Gunn to hear all about the sequel to one of the biggest surprise hits in recent years. The director has some tricks up his sleeves to keep the universe feeling fresh when we had back to the world of the Guardians next year.

"The first movie, we set out to create a movie that wasn't what people expected that took them to new places that was both much funnier, much more colorful than they thought it was going to be," Gunn says. "I think this movie's going to be the same way. I think we're giving them things that they don't expect and I think we take twists and turns and the stories, I don't think you're going to expect. It starts with today in revealing this is about Baby Groot and this is about Ego the Living Planet being Quill's father. It's a very unique situation to start with."

Typically, Gunn likes to keep all the secrets he can about his films. The reveal of Quill's father outside of the film comes as a surprise to those who know him at all, however, he has good reason for unveiling the mystery.

"Quite frankly, we knew that people were going to figure it out eventually," Gunn says. "People were gonna start testing the movie, we're gonna start testing trailers, and it this point I thought it was better that we took the reigns in our own hands and revealed Ego to the public. I also think it sends a real important message. This movie isn't about, 'Oh my god, you've gotta go and find out who Peter Quills dad is!' It really is about the story and the relationship that these characters have. We find out about Peter's father pretty close to the beginning of the film so we're not giving some big spoiler away. I think it really isn't about this big surprise, it really is about the story and the emotions that transpire between Peter Quill, his adoptive father Yondu, and his real father Ego who happens to be a Living Planet."

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters May 5, 2017.