Marvel Begins Production on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Marvel Studios announced today that it has begun principal photography at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which is slated to hit U.S. theaters on May 5, 2017. The production will shoot at Atlanta's Pinewood Studios.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" is written and directed by James Gunn ("Guardians of the Galaxy," "Slither").

The film marks the return of the original Guardians, including Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord; Zoe Saldana as Gamora; Dave Bautista as Drax; Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot; Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket; Michael Rooker as Yondu; Karen Gillan as Nebula; and Sean Gunn as Kraglin.

New cast members include Pom Klementieff ("Oldboy"), Elizabeth Debicki ("The Great Gatsby," "Everest"), Chris Sullivan ("The Drop") and Kurt Russell ("The Hateful Eight").

Director James Gunn's creative team also includes director of photography Henry Braham ("The Legend of Tarzan"); production designer Scott Chambliss ("Star Trek"); editors Fred Raskin ("The Hateful Eight") and Craig Wood ("Guardians of the Galaxy" "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"); three time Oscar-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky ("Captain America: Civil War"); visual effects supervisor Chris Townsend ("Avengers: Age of Ultron," "Iron Man 3"); and stunt coordinator Tommy Harper ("Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales").

In the United States, James Gunn's first Guardians of the Galaxy film is already out on Blu-ray via Walt Disney Home Entertainment.