Since the debut of Groot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Guardian of the Galaxy has been a fan-favorite character that he even scored his own mini-series with I Am Groot which already has two seasons. From the start, Vin Diesel was always behind the voice of the beloved tree who only has three words throughout his years in the franchise. However, in Marvel's What If...? Season 2 Episode 1, Vin Diesel did not voice Groot despite the tree's appearance in the episode, silently recasting the role.
Since the first installment of the series, Marvel's What If...? has always teased the curiosity of the viewers on the different possibilities that could happen in the multiverse. With various alternate realities, stories could go differently with the one that everyone knows from the main timeline and as Uatu, the Watcher, would say, one choice could lead into a different result. With Season 2, the series continues to ponder on the titular question with a tease on what could have happened had things went on a different path.
In Marvel's What If...? Season 2 Episode 1 titled What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?, MCU introduced a different set of Guardians where Nebula was a corpsman at Xandar in a reality where Ronan the Accuser had a successful coup against Thanos. In the episode with Nebula was Howard the Duck, Korg, and Groot. However, in the credits, the voice of Groot was not credited to Vin Diesel but to voice acting veteran Fred Tatasciore, seemingly recasting the role silently.
Will Vin Diesel return as Groot in future MCU projects?
Vin Diesel has been the voice of Groot for years since the character's debut in the MCU. However, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 red carpet premiere, Vin Diesel hinted to Entertainment Tonight that his time as Groot may have reached the finish line already saying:
You know, just... on that front, it was very cool because it meant that the audience is now able to understand the vernacular, the language of this Flora colossus. And that's a testament to the ten years of loyalty which we've been so blessed with in this franchise with the Groot character and patience to have people wait that long for somebody saying three words. But, like everything alive, with patience and dedication.
In the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the audience finally heard Groot speak in English which points to the viewers being in the MCU long enough to understand Groot's language. However, the hint of Diesel ending his Groot stint in the MCU was broken when the actor voiced the character for I Am Groot Season 2 which premiered in September 2023. As Groot has been voiced by a different actor in What If...? Season 2, the chances of Diesel returning as Groot's voice remain unknown as MCU has not confirmed whether recasting the character was for good.
Marvel's What If...? Season 2 unveils new episodes everyday on Disney Plus until December 30, 2023.
