Michael Rooker joins Guardians of the Galaxy

Having worked with director James Gunn on Slither and Super, it was rumoured a few months back that actor Michael Rooker was in contention for the role of Rocket Raccoon in Gunn's upcoming space-set superhero adventure Guardians of the Galaxy. Now Deadline has revealed that Rooker has indeed secured a role in the Marvel Studios film, although instead of Rocket Raccoon he's set to feature as Yondu, a Centaurian hunter who was a founding member of the original Guardians (in the comic books at least).

Rooker is perhaps best known for his breakthrough role as serial killer Henry Lee Lucas in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, and he also recently appeared as Merle on AMC's The Walking Dead, before becoming zombie bait this past season. He becomes the fourth actor to sign on for Guardians of the Galaxy, with Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation, Zero Dark Thirty) starring as the Guardians' leader Star-Lord, former WWE star Dave Bautista (The Man with the Iron Fists, Riddick) appearing as Drax the Destroyer, and Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Star Trek Into Darkness) portraying Gamora, step-daughter of the Mad Titan Thanos.

Guardians of the Galaxy is set for release on August 1st, 2014.