The MCU's Phase 4 has so far felt like every single project has to be high stakes or serve as an introduction for an iconic comic character or be part of the wider multiverse story. So having a Christmas special centred on characters we know, and love is the perfect way to end the year. Releasing onto Disney Plus on November 25th there is plenty of time to fit this special into all of Disney's upcoming Christmas content.
The trailer opens with the Marvel's Special Presentation screen, something that I expect we may see more of in the coming years. The first and only other Special Presentation that has been released so far is Werewolf by Night which was a thrilling black and white introduction to the characters of Elsa Bloodstone, Man-Thing and the titular character. If we go off Werewolf By Night's runtime, we can expect a similar fifty minutes of the Guardians and their Christmas hijinks. I think the Special Presentations are a great idea to explore stories that don't warrant a full tv series or movie.
Obviously, the highlight of this trailer is the MCU introduction of Kevin Bacon himself, who was previously mentioned in 2018's Infinity War. Speaking of Infinity War, it only dawned on me whilst watching the trailer that for most of the Guardians, Gamora only recently died but in-universe and in reality, it was over four years ago. With Drax and Mantis intending to cheer up Star-Lord by celebrating Christmas (and kidnapping Kevin Bacon), it looks like a heart-warming watch. Cosmo the Spacedog also made her grand return in the trailer, last seen in the first Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). Will Cosmo become a Guardian, and does she have her telepathic powers from the comics (wherein Cosmo was a male)? I guess we'll wait and see this holiday season.
