Hey folks: this post is a bona fide potential spoiler. If you don’t want to know what may or may not come to pass, casting-wise, with Guardians Vol. 2, then click away from this post now. Whatever you do: don’t say we didn’t warn ya, mmkay?

Now here’s a story we’re crossing our fingers turns out to be true: according to a report from The Wrap, it looks like veteran actor Kurt Russell is in talks to join Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2, and in a pretty major role. Yes, we mean that role: Star-Lord/Peter Quill’s long-lost father. Although the true identity of Peter Quill’s pops is still a mystery (and will probably stay a mystery until the movie opens), director James Gunn has already confirmed that it is indeed a well-known Marvel Comics character but not the same person it is in the comics.

Christ Pratt is of course returning as Star-Lord, alongside co-stars Zoe Saldana (Gamora) and David Bautista (Drax). Also expected to return are Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel as the voices of Rocket and Groot, respectively. Oldboy actress Pom Klementieff also recently joined the cast in an unspecified role.

If Russell does indeed end up taking the part, this would continue a big comeback streak the actor has been on recently, what with major roles in movies like Furious 7 and The Hateful Eight, and the upcoming Deepwater Horizon. He is also expected to reprise his role in the next installment of the Fast and Furious franchise, which is expected to shoot around the same time as Guardians 2.

Of course, the real question here is: which Marvel character is going to be Star-Lord’s daddy? Speculation has ranged from Adam Warlock to former Avenger Starfox, and even Captain Mar-Vell (which was debunked by James Gunn, although that would have been super cool). Regardless of who it is, having it be played by Kurt Russell would just be the latest in a long string of genius casting choices from Kevin Feige and the folks at Marvel Studios.

What do you think of the news? Let us know in the comments below.

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HT: The Wrap
IMAGE: Universal