Guardians Of The Galaxy filmmaker James Gunn finally addresses rumour that Vin Diesel was paid $54 million for role as Groot

A rumour that Vin Diesel got paid $54 million for voicing Groot in Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy has been debunked by filmmaker James Gunn.

The rumour had been circulating for years but Gunn finally addressed the speculation on Twitter in April.

The origin of the $54m figure is unclear, but the director certainly gave it no credence.

Replying to a tweet which showed a screenshot of an article claiming that Diesel received the astronomical figure, for a role only requiring uttering the words ‘I am Groot’ over and over again, he had a simple answer.

With a laughing emoji, he commented: ‘Not true.’

Speaking out: Filmmaker James Gunn (pictured in May) has finally debunked the claim that Vin Diesel has earned $54 million in playing Groot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

I am Groot: Diesel’s role only requires him to say the same three words over and over again

Read Related Also: Who Does Charity Lawson Tell to Leave?

Although many were sceptical about the number anyway, the animated tree is a key part of the Guardians Of The Galaxy trilogy.

Diesel voiced the character in all three movies, and as one of Hollywood’s most well-known faces – and voices – that will presumably garner a sizeable fee no matter what.

One key issue with the assertion that he had made $54m from the role was that is was supposedly constituted by four payments of just over $13m – one for each film he voices Groot in.

However, things will be much more complex than that, as the actor has, in reality, fulfilled the role in seen movies, to varying degrees, plus some television appearances.

Besides the MCU Guardians trilogy, Diesel’s character also appears in two Avengers movies, Thor: Love And Thunder, and makes a cameo in Disney’s Ralph Breaks The Internet.

Those are on top of the five-part I Am Groot series, and a 2022 TV special of Guardians Of The Galaxy.

So, it is no surprise that on the eve of the final Guardians Of The Galaxy film’s release in the US, Gunn was able to finally put the rumour to rest.

Simple and clear: The Guardians Of The Galaxy trilogy’s director was brief in his reply to the long-standing rumour

 Top earner: The $54m figure came as the sum of four payments of roughly $13m, each for different films