I didn’t think any trailer to drop this week would top that of Cocaine Bear and yet I stand corrected. Fresh off the heels of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special we got our first look at what I have circled as the most anticipated film on the MCU’s docket. It’s been a long wait for this as behind the scenes drama between the studio and the talent have kept the film in limbo for some time. And after our first look I have nothing but confidence this is going to be nothing short of incredible.

While not revealing too much this trailer gives us just enough to get the blood pumping. Bookended with trademark humor and a great soundtrack, the trailer gives us a brief look at a pair of new villains in The High Evolutionary (Peacemaker’s Chukwudi Iwuji) and Adam Warlock (Dopesick’s Will Poulter). While we know little about what they’re doing, it all looks incredible. And speaking of Will Poulter, what a glow up that guy’s had since we all first saw him in We’re The Millers. It also looks like there’s going to be plenty of drama in this one as seen by Peter’s screaming, Rocket’s last stand, and a good old fashioned “WE are Groot!”

Writer/director James Gunn has said this is going to be the last go-around for the Guardians as a whole. Gunn just took a job heading up the DC Universe following the success of The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker and Dave Bautista has been very vocal about his hatred of the extensive makeup he needs to use to play Drax. Not sure what the future holds for the characters individually but we know for sure this is the last time Quill, Drax, Mantis, Rocket, Nebula, Groot, and Gamora will all be together. It’s a bummer but I have total faith in Gunn and the team.

Sidebar about the Guardians: the first film was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in a theater. That movie was so out-of-nowhere good and its the film that really got me into the MCU, which is ironic because I honestly had no idea it was even a part of the MCU when I went into the theater. Everything from the soundtrack, the silliness, the visuals, the performances, the action, and the heart that movie had was just perfection. As far as standalone films go in the MCU it’s my personal favorite. The original Avengers never really did it for me but were it not for this film I don’t know if I ever would have gotten into these films that I’ve come to love so much.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was solid but certainly had its flaws, mostly that it was so obviously focusing on setting up future MCU projects rather than telling its own story. The first two Guardians films have done a great job of doing their own thing while existing within MCU. I’m hoping that Marvel lets James Gunn do what he does best because it’d be a real shame to see studio interference mess with what I feel is their best property.