The latest installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy film franchise in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is scheduled to be released next year. As such, fans got a brand-new look at the film at this year’s Comic-Con. The new look included the additional reveal that actress Maria Bakalova would be joining the cast as the voice of Cosmo the Space Dog. Although the dog made a small appearance in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, this will be the first time fans get to hear the pup’s voice. Some fans are disappointed, however, given the fact that Cosmo was previously depicted as male in all other iterations. As such, the gender swap decision to cast Maria Bakalova as a female version of Cosmo has quite a few Guardians of the Galaxy fans expressing their disappointment.
As noted by Twitter, many fans have complained that this decision is too far in Marvel’s efforts to maintain much more inclusive casts. This has been a common complaint with the latest phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
With more minorities and women both being represented, it seems some fans are disappointed with the course of the franchise. Of course, James Gunn is a brilliant writer and director, and there’s no doubt that Maria Bakalova will make a great Cosmo under his direction.
Gunn defended the decision, saying:
“Cosmo is based on Laika, a female Soviet space dog who died in orbit in 1957 – I’m just going back to the original source material.”
In any case, here are what some of the complaints over the decision have stated:
They gender swapped Cosmo the Dog, another win for feminism 😆 🤣 😂
— DissocialSpace (@DissocialSpace) July 24, 2022
ROTFLMFAO!!! Disney is gender flipping a dog? LOLOL Cosmo the space dog will be female in GOTG vol 3. LOL Wow Marvel just wow. LOL A DOG!!!https://t.co/sDUPAAOS5B
— C.J Batpunk (@Snakeey56755808) July 24, 2022
Ummmm, last time I checked, Cosmo the Spacedog is supposed to be a dude. But I guess they’re genderbending dog characters too, huh? #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy https://t.co/FkU8pevWGg
— 🇺🇸#ForeverMarvel🇵🇷 (@MCExcelsiorius) July 24, 2022
Looks like Disney is hitting new lows LOL
— Extra Super Straight (@ToxicManWeeb) July 24, 2022
That is so fucking embarrassing
— Ethan Crandall (@ethanjcrandall) July 24, 2022
Wtf
— cody (@crwintucky_) July 24, 2022
But is a Male dog… Cosma? Why change gender?
— Juan López (@juezlo) July 24, 2022
Cosmo is a male dog though right?
— JD Grymm (@JoelMaciej) July 24, 2022
Ultimately, fans will have to see the finished film to see how well Maria Bakalova’s performance turns out. And considering the character was always inspired by the female Soviet space dog Laika who died in orbit in 1957 – this decision to gender swap the Guardians of the Galaxy character certainly isn’t out of nowhere.
Original Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 director James Gunn returned to direct this third installment. The cast for the upcoming film features Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, and the voice talents of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. Will Poulter is joining the cast as Adam Warlock.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 will be released on May 5, 2023.