James Gunn Reveals: Does He Profit From Baby Groot Merchandise?
James Gunn, the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and now co-CEO of DC Studios, recently disclosed whether he receives any royalties from the immensely popular Baby Groot merchandise. This reveal came during an interview on The Howard Stern Show and has sparked discussions about creative compensation in the entertainment industry.
The Rise of Baby Groot
Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel, first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy. The character quickly became a fan favorite. After Groot's heroic sacrifice, Baby Groot, or Groot II, emerged, further cementing the character's popularity and driving massive merchandise sales.
Baby Groot has since appeared in numerous MCU projects, including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, his own Disney+ series, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. While Vin Diesel typically provides the voice, Fred Tatasciore voiced the character in What If...?.
Gunn's Revelation on Royalties
Despite creating and drawing Baby Groot, James Gunn clarified that he doesn't receive any direct financial benefit from the character's merchandise sales. “We created the character Baby Groot, you know, I drew that character,” Gunn told Stern. “I don’t make any of that money in the same way that comic-book artists don’t.”
This revelation surprised Howard Stern, who questioned the arrangement. However, Gunn emphasized that he is well-compensated for his work on the Guardians of the Galaxy films, particularly Vol. 2 and Vol. 3. “I’m incredibly well paid. Guardians 2 and 3, especially Guardians 3,” he stated, adding, “I am incredibly well paid up front and on the back end. I make back-end dollars too. I just don’t make money off merchandising.”
The Bigger Picture: Creator Compensation
The issue of creator compensation, particularly for merchandising rights, is a long-standing debate, especially within the comic book industry. Groot was originally created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby, debuting in Tales to Astonish #13 in 1960. However, his popularity skyrocketed following his MCU debut.
Gunn’s situation highlights the complex nature of intellectual property and revenue sharing in large entertainment franchises. While he doesn’t profit from Baby Groot merchandise, his significant compensation from the films themselves underscores the value of his contributions to the MCU. Now at DC Studios, it remains to be seen if his experiences will influence how creators are compensated.
Gunn's Future Projects
After completing the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, including The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, James Gunn has transitioned to DC Studios. He is currently involved in projects like Creature Commandos, Superman, and Peacemaker season 2. Also, in development is Man of Tomorrow, a Superman/Lex Luthor team-up movie scheduled for release in July 2027.
