Vin Diesel Might Have Nabbed The Best Marvel Comics Role Ever As Groot

When it was first announced that Vin Diesel had been cast in Guardians of the Galaxy as a tree that only said three words, some members of the press poked fun of Vin Diesel. People who weren't familiar with and didn't understand the character of Groot thought that Vin Diesel got a bum deal when it comes to Marvel characters.

What they didn't realize is that Vin Diesel had just snagged possibly the best Marvel Comics role ever. In addition to many fans pointing to Groot as their favorite character in the film, Groot has become somewhat of a worldwide phenomenon.

While a lot can happen between now and Christmas, all indication are that dancing Baby Groot will be the hottest toy of the holiday shopping season. No matter how much stock toy manufacturers produce, it probably won't be enough. Dancing Baby Groot will likely become a Tickle Me Elmo with the toy selling for well above retail on eBay.

In addition to the likelihood of a best-selling toy, Groot has even inspired a new dance craze called "grooting." With a little help from a demonstration that Michael Rooker did at Chicago Comic-Con, fans are now uploading videos of themselves dancing like Baby Groot to Jackson 5's "I Want You Back."

But it doesnt' stop there, dancing Baby Groot has entered the world of food design with fans making Baby Groot cupcakes and cakes. Groot has also become a favorite cosplay at comic book conventions, even giving Deadpool a run for his money.

For his part, Vin Diesel has been leveraging his role as Groot to raise awareness about the environment, creating the Plant A Tree For Groot Challenge. Vin Diesel might have only had three (or four technically) words in Guardians of the Galaxy, but what a three words they were. With every utterance of the three words, Vin Diesel delivered a range of emotion that had early critics eating their words.

"I am Groot" is a phrase that will go down in movie history. Wherever Vin Diesel goes from now, he will forever have left a mark on the world with Groot, raising the character from obscurity to now being one of Marvel's most popular characters.