RUMOR ALERT: This article contains information that is just a RUMOR at this point, so take everything with a grain of salt.  Also some information may be considered SPOILERS.  Proceed with caution.

‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ culminated with a shake up in the lineup of the titular team, which will further play out in this summer’s ‘Captain America: Civil War’.  Can fans expect a similar shuffling of the guard in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2’?  Rumors seem to indicate that this may be the case.  The film is currently in pre-production and is due to begin filming in February, with James Gunn returning to the director’s chair.

It is already known that French Canadian Pom Klementieff has been added as new member Mantis.  Gunn has also disclosed that his original plan was to add a second new member but he felt the character didn’t add to the overall story and was cut.

Now word comes that by the end of ‘Vol. 2’, the Guardians undergo a significant overhaul, with some wondering if maybe some characters we are already familiar with might align with the team officially.  First there is Michael Rooker’s Yondu, who is confirmed to be returning.  In the comics, Yondu was actually one of the original Guardians, a team from the future who journeyed back in time to aid the Avengers.  Of course that version of Yondu was significantly different from Rooker’s gritty space bounty hunter.  Even so, it wouldn’t be completely crazy to see him switch allegiances to join this ragtag group.

And then there’s Nebula (Karen Gillan), Gamora’s sister.  The two siblings were enemies in the first movie, but after Thanos’ treachery, it seems they will now share a common enemy.  Could we see these two working together?

The final buzz is that the group might see an Avenger join their ranks.  This could create a bridge between the Guardians and the Avengers and the rest of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Everything seems to be building toward ‘Avengers: Infinity War – Part One’, which centers on Thanos’ quest to assemble all the Infinity Stones.  Two of the stones are in the possession of beings within the ‘Guardians’ world, Taneleer Tivan a.k.a. The Collector (played by Benecio del Toro) has the Reality Stone, while the Nova Corps holds the Power Stone.  Why not bring in another Stone?

SPOILER ALERT!

Gunn has repeatedly denied stories that The Hulk would somehow find his way into the Guardians, but what about another hero?

The latest rumor is that The Vision may depart the Avengers at the end of ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and head into space, which could set him on course to meet up with the Guardians.

The Vision is powered by the Mind Stone which is embedded in his forehead.  That would place three of the four revealed Stones in close proximity.

Keep in mind, this is unconfirmed.  But would you be interested in seeing this android Avenger teaming up with Star-Lord and the gang?

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2′ invades theaters on May 5, 2017.  Directed by James Gunn, the film stars Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Zoë Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Benicio del Toro (The Collector), Michael Rooker (Yondu), Sean Gunn (Kraglin) and the voices of Bradley Cooper (Rocket) and Vin Diesel (Groot).  Joining the party is Pom Klementieff as Mantis.

Source: Screen Rant