Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy Concept Art released by Charlie Wen

Marvel Studios officially confirmed that "Guardians of the Galaxy" is on its way to the big screen with a release date of August 1, 2014. The cast lineup includes ( from Left to Right )Drax the Destroyer, Groot, Star Lord, Rocket Raccoon, and Gamorra. The inclusion of Gamora and Drax makes it highly likely Thanos, seen at the end title scene in "The Avengers," will be somehow involved in the film's storyline. 

They’re a team who first appeared in Marvel Comics back in 1969 and then in scattered appearances throughout different books in the ’70s and ’80s until getting their own ongoing series in the ’90s. They consisted of a human astronaut and a ragtag group of last-of-their-kind alien heroes, who band together to protect our solar system from an evil alien race. The kicker is that they’re from the future… and from another dimension. The Earthly astronaut got there by being put in suspended animation for around a thousand years on a quest to Alpha Centauri, and he and the Guardians travel back in time to the present to work with The Avengers and end the threat.

Guardians of the Galaxy

DRAX THE DESTROYER

Drax the Destroyer

Arthur Sampson Douglas and his family were killed by the Titanian Eternal Thanos while driving across the Mojave Desert. Kronos recovered Douglas' astral form and used it to create a superhuman warrior for the purpose of defeating Thanos. After Thanos was defeated, Drax was eventually killed by a psychic attack from Moondragon.

Years later, Drax was resurrected to once again to battle Thanos. Drax's resurrection was not perfect, however; his brain remained damaged from his previous death. After Thanos was defeated a second time, Drax became a member of the Infinity Watch and guardian of the Power Gem.

GROOT

Groot

Groot was an extraterrestrial being that had the appearance of a tree, and his race was thought to be extinct. It was determined that that his species was called Floral Colossus, by the Kree. Groot initially traveled to Earth seeking humans as test subjects. His mission was foiled by Leslie Evans who used termites against him and it appeared that Groot was destroyed. However, he was defeated by The Living Colossus and became a captive of S.H.I.E.L.D., He would later become a member of Nick Fury’s Howling Commandos team. 

STAR LORD

Star Lord

Peter Quill is born during an unusual astronomical phenomenon when many of the planets align. Quill is raised by his single mother until she is killed by an alien. Quill is placed in an orphanage but escapes and eventually becomes a trainee NASA astronaut. An alien called the Master of the Sun eventually visits the space station that Quill and other astronauts are inhabiting, and offers the mantle of Star-Lord to a worthy candidate. Quill volunteers, but is rejected in favor of a colleague he once treated badly.

Quill is outraged, and NASA orders his return to Earth and discharge for his conduct. Instead, he steals a scoutship, returns to the space station, and takes his colleague's place. Quill becomes Star-Lord, with the Master of the Sun first creating an illusion in which the character is able to find and kill the aliens that murdered his mother to free him of his past. Equipped with a sentient vessel called "Ship", Quill commences his role as Star-Lord.

ROCKET RACCOON

Rocket Raccoon

Rocket Raccoon acts as the "Guardian of the Keystone Quadrant", an area of outer space sealed off from the rest of the cosmos by the so-called Galacian Wall. Rocket is captain of the starship Rack 'n' Ruin, and he and his first mate Wal Russ (a talking walrus) come from the planet Halfworld, in the Keystone Quadrant, an abandoned colony for the mentally ill where the animal companions were genetically manipulated to grant them human level intelligence and bipedal body construction for many to become caretakers of the inmates. Rocket was Halfworld's chief law officer ("ranger") who protected the colony against various threats.

GAMORRA

Gamorra

Gamora is the last of her species, the Zen Whoberi, who were exterminated by the Badoon (in her original timeline, her species was exterminated by the Universal Church of Truth). Thanos found the child and decided to use her as a weapon. Gamora was raised and trained by Thanos to assassinate the Magus, an evil alternate version of Adam Warlock. Thanos showed her little kindness during her childhood, but Gamora was very loyal to the man who promised her the opportunity to avenge the death of her family. Gamora became very proficient in the martial arts, earning the nickname "The most dangerous woman in the universe". When she was a teenager, Thanos took her on a trip. Gamora disobeyed Thanos's orders, and due to this came into conflict with a group of thugs. She was greatly outnumbered, and despite her skills she was defeated and then raped by one of the assailants.

Iron Man 3 opens on 26 April 2013, Thor: The Dark World opens on 8 November 2013, Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens on 4 April 2014, and Guardians Of The Galaxy opens on 1 August 2014.