It was announced today by Marvel Studios that principal photography has begin for Marvel‘s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Production is taking place at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. The movie will hit theaters May 5, 2017. The movie is written and directed by James Gunn who directed the first film and along with Nicole Perlman wrote it as well.

Returning are Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord; Zoe Saldana as Gamora; Dave Bautista as Drax; Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot; Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket; Michael Rooker as Yondu; Karen Gillan as Nebula; and Sean Gunn as Kraglin. Gunn on his Facebook page also confirmed the return of Glenn Close as Nova Prime.

New cast members include Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan and Kurt Russell. While it is unknown who most of those individuals will play, Gunn confirmed on Facebook that Klementieff will be playing Mantis a character from the comics who was also an Avenger.

There’s been speculation that Russell will be playing Peter Quill/Star-Lord’s father. In the comics the character’s dad is J’Sonn a dictator in control of the Spartax Empire. Gunn has said that’s not the case in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” continues the team’s adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is produced by Marvel Studios’ president, Kevin Feige, with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Nik Korda and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.

Director James Gunn’s creative team also includes director of photography Henry Braham; production designer Scott Chambliss; editors Fred Raskin and Craig Wood; three time Oscar-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky; Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Chris Townsend; stunt coordinator Tommy Harper; co-producer / first assistant director Lars Winther; and six-time Oscar nominee, special effects supervisor Dan Sudick.

Gunn said on Facebook:

Official photography on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has started, and I couldn’t be more stoked.

My favorite movie as a small child was The Strongest Man in the World, so I’m glad to announce that, yes, Kurt Russell has joined our cast and, yes, he is more awesome a dude than I ever could have imagined.

The last few days around here with him and our other new cast members, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, and Chris Sullivan, have been some of the best of my life. I never thought anyone was missing from our island of misfit toys, but now that these folks are here there feels like there was.

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, and Glenn Close are all returning.

We’ll have more surprises for you in the coming months. But, for now, this will have to do.

I have to get back to set!

Have a great day, everybody.