With the release of Doctor Strange just around the corner, it seems likely that we’ll soon see a fresh glimpse of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on the big screen. Each of Marvel’s intergalactic misfits won our hearts in the first film, but none more than Groot, the walking tree-like alien voiced by Vin Diesel. While Groot was seemingly reborn (following a noble self-sacrifice) in the closing minutes of Vol. 1, Diesel recently hinted that he may not be the Groot that we remember.

While speaking with Collider, Diesel said, “There is a difference” between the sequel’s Groot and the one we remember. “He couldn’t be more naive as Baby Groot. I always think of the Groot that we saw on the first Guardians as a college-level Groot, so he’s not fully grown yet, but he’s a man. And once he sacrifices himself at the end of the movie, now he has to start all over, so to speak. But we’re gonna see this goofy, adorable, baby Groot thing running around the screen and just learning as he goes.”

There is some speculation as to whether Baby Groot is the same Groot from the first film (just… younger now), or if he’s essentially the offspring of Groot. Will he even share the memories that his previous incarnation had? From the way that Diesel describes him, Baby Groot represents a regression of Groot’s core personality. Keep in mind, the older Groot was pretty impulsive in the first film as well. But without the brute strength of his grown body, Baby Groot may get himself and his teammates into trouble. Note that in all of the early artwork from Vol. 2, Baby Groot has been keeping very close to Drax the Destroyer. That may have been foreshadowed in the popular post-credits scene from Guardians of the Galaxy, so it should be interesting to see how their relationship plays out in the sequel.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will be released on May 5, 2017. What do you want to see from Baby Groot in the sequel? Get your Groot on in the comment section below!

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Image: Marvel Studios