Why Mantis Is The Most Important Member Of The Guardians of the Galaxy

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

“James Gunn changed my life.” While some would consider that a hyperbolic statement, actress Pom Klementieff swears by it. During a press conference for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 , the actress shared why she believes the Guardians’ arguably oddest member has been the role of a lifetime.

“[Mantis] is an empath,” she said. “So, you have to have a deeper connection with everything and everyone. So, it’s, like, beautiful to tap in and [create?] deep, profound, and layered emotions, you know? And then I got to be super weird.”

Klementieff took the time to not only reflect on the opportunity to be such a wonderfully strange character, but to work with a cast of “incredible actors.”

READ: How Chukwudi Iwuji Landed The Role Of High Evolutionary In ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

She recalled one time where Gunn actually told her that “Mantis was the glue that kept the Guardians together.” She didn’t believe it at first, but it’s an idea that becomes very obvious throughout the latest installment. Between supporting Peter in his time of mourning for his Gamora and defending Drax from getting dunked on by all the other members, she sees the team for the family that it is – because it’s also the family she never had.

Klementieff added that she feels her undying empathy is so important in the film because “the world lacks a lot of empathy.”

When asked about the differences between her character in the comics and the way she’s adapted for the films, Klementieff said that she loved Gunn’s reimagining. “It’s so interesting to give a different take on a female character and give more comedy and more awkwardness and something different,” she said.

To which Gunn added, “I think it’s also cool to have somebody [whose] superpower is empathy. It is feelings. Emotions are so important to Mantis. And we’re so used to this very sort of, you know, male hardcore, macho, like, shooting rays out of, you know, their arms, lifting cars and throwing automobiles and shooting people. She comes in with emotions and is equally or if not more powerful.”

While it’s unclear what the future holds for Mantis post Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the way Gunn praises the character all but confirms that we have not seen the last of her.

” She was the one that almost took down Thanos, you know?”

READ: Chris Pratt Is Down To Appear In 3 More ‘Guardians’ Films

Last we saw the Guardians was during Thor: Love and Thunder, where Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Rocket (Cooper), and Groot (Vin Diesel) were joined by Thor (Chris Hemsworth) as they search for Gamora (Zoe Saldana), who disappeared following the final battle with Thanos and his army.

In Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

Will Poulter (The Revenant) also joins the cast this time around as Adam Warlock, with Peacemaker star Chukwudi Iwuji as the villainous High Evolutionary.

Guardians of the Galaxy is in theaters now.