Writer-director James Gunn of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise had one strict rule that he followed for Rocket Raccoon in the MCU: keep Rocket self-interested and unheroic.

Gunn said, “I was very, very careful through all the movies [...] that Rocket never does one single action that is for anyone other than himself or his friends. He's not a hero.”

The filmmaker added, “Morally, [Rocket is] much more stunted than Nebula is by the end of the ‘Avengers’ series. He has just cut himself off completely from feeling for people.”

Gunn cited when Rocket has a turning point, sharing, “At the end of ‘Vol. 3,’ [...] where he accepts himself by taking those raccoons and then starts looking around the cages.”

He added, “He sees, [...] ‘We're all a part of this universe, and every life has purpose, meaning, and is worthy of respect.’ That's who he is now [...] he's strictly a good guy.”

By the end of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” Rocket embraces his true nature as a hero and becomes kinder and gentler, even willing to spare the High Evolutionary's life.