Elsewhere on Twitter, “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn seemed to indicate that episodes of “I Am Groot” might not be entirely canonical within the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it. “They are animated shorts,” he tweeted, “so not necessarily part of the Guardians saga.”

They are animated shorts so not necessarily part of the Guardians saga. https://t.co/NEHWcmAHtS

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 5, 2022

Since the MCU is now an ever-growing multiverse, “I Am Groot” could very well be taking place in an alternate timeline like the various stories in Marvel’s “What If…?” animated series last summer. This is shaping up to be a big year for the Guardians; they’ve recently had a new theme park attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, open at Epcot in Disney World, and will next be showing up onscreen in “Thor: Love and Thunder.” 

Thor, of course, appeared in his own series of “Team Thor” mockumentary shorts, which are now considered part of the Marvel One-Shots series. And they might be a good comparison point for “I Am Groot” since they’re just a funny bit of apocrypha that isn’t essential to MCU continuity.

Baby Groot made his onscreen debut at the end of the first “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie in 2014, and his appearance in “Guardians Vol. 2” landed mid-2017, which means that he predates the Porgs and Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) of subsequent “Star Wars” projects. After their appearance in “Love and Thunder,” the Guardians will be taking a page out of the “Star Wars” playbook, though, by appearing in their own holiday special this December.

“I Am Groot” premieres on Disney+ on August 10, 2022.