The latest press release for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" has revealed that Miley Cyrus' character, Mainframe, from the previous film, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," has been recast for the upcoming movie.
Cyrus had voiced the disembodied voice that originated from a helmet in a post-credits scene in the 2017 film. However, she did not return to reprise the role for the 2023 movie, and the reason for her absence remains unknown.
The press release confirms that Tara Strong, who is known for her work in "Loki," will now take on the role of Mainframe in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3." This recasting decision has surprised many fans, and it will be interesting to see how Strong brings this character to life in the upcoming film.
Tara Strong, an experienced voice actress famous for her work in animated shows such as "The Fairly OddParents," where she played the character of Timmy Turner, and "Loki," where she voiced Miss Minutes, is expected to have a more substantial role in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" than Miley Cyrus had in the previous film.
Cyrus' character, Mainframe, had a limited role in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" as her entire part was restricted to just one line of dialogue in response to Sylvester Stallone's Stakar: "I miss you guys so much!"
Mainframe appeared as part of Yondu's team of Ravagers, led by Sylvester Stallone's Stakar Ogord, in the second post-credits sequence of Vol. 2. The star-studded team also featured Michelle Yeoh as Aleta Ogord and Ving Rhames as Charlie-27.
Cyrus' acting career is more closely associated with television than movies thanks to her time as Hannah Montana with Disney Channel, although she did have starring roles in 2009's Hannah Montana: The Movie and 2010's The Last Song, both of which were box office hits.
Although viewers never see her face, Mainframe has a distinct, high-pitched voice that is almost reminiscent of a customer service representative. This playful and somewhat silly tone matches the overall humorous vibe of the "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In the comic book version of the character, Mainframe is male and was an original member of the Guardians of the Galaxy team. He possessed incredible powers, including the ability to control an entire planet.
Tara Strong Double-Cast In the MCU
After Strong's recent announcement of being cast in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" in a role other than Miss Minutes, many fans were left wondering about actors taking on multiple roles in the vast Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, this is not a new phenomenon for the MCU, nor is it the only instance in the upcoming film.
Linda Cardellini, who plays Laura Barton, Hawkeye's wife, has been cast as Lylla the Otter in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3." Similarly, Gemma Chan has appeared in both "Eternals" and "Captain Marvel" as different characters, and Martin Starr has played different roles in "The Incredible Hulk" and the MCU's "Spider-Man" trilogy. It seems the practice of double-casting actors is becoming increasingly common in the MCU.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters on Friday, May 5.