Miley Cyrus was conspicuously absent from "Guardians of the Galaxy" Vol. 3 after appearing as Mainframe in Vol. 2.
The actress/musician appeared momentarily at the end of "GOTG 2," but was recast in James Gunn's MCU sequel, with Miss Minutes voice actress Tara Strong assuming the part.
With Cryus receiving only a single line of dialogue as a Guardians character, some may question why the actress was not given a second opportunity to portray the robotic disembodied head.
Many fans were dismayed that Miley Cyrus did not reprise her role as Mainframe in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but there may be a valid explanation for her absence.
In response to online inquiries from admirers, "Guardians" director James Gunn disclosed that Cyrus was unable to reprise her role in Guardians 2.
This "not able to" phrase implies that an endeavor was made to include her in Guardians 3, but she was unable to make it work.
Tara Strong, a veteran voice actor, replaced the former Disney star as a member of the original Guardian team due to her probable inability to attend due to her busy schedule as a hit-making musician and entertainer. Cyrus just released her most recent studio album, "Endless Summer Vacation," which she would have been working on around the time Marvel Studios required her to record lines for the Guardians trilogy's conclusion.
Plus, she has a role in the upcoming fifth season of Black Mirror on Netflix, so it is easy to see why she may not have been able to make it work.
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Gunn told Buzzfeed in 2017 that he initially employed Cryus because he "appreciated the tone of her voice" and thought she was "funny, likable, and sweet:"
He said he found her to be amusing, endearing, and kind. He appreciated her concern for the contestants. Therefore, they contacted her, and she agreed. She came in to record, and it was a pleasure to work with her, Gunn added.
Hugo Weaving, who played Red Skull/Johann Schmidt in Captain America: The First Avenger, was supplanted by voice actor Ross Marquand in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.
However, this decision was ultimately made because Weaving was unwilling to undergo the extensive makeup process required to portray the character again.
Weaving stated at the time in an interview with Time Out that he "loved playing that character Red Skull," but ultimately did not return due to contractual issues with Marvel.
While this situation is comparable to Cyrus' recasting, it appears that there is less animosity between Cyrus and Marvel Studios than between Weaving and the Hollywood powerhouse. With the "Guardians of the Galaxy" unlikely to return with this lineup, it is uncertain if Cyrus will have another shot at MCU fame. "Guardians of the Galaxy" Vol. 3 is currently playing in theaters around the globe.
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