In a bit of nerd news that no doubt brings joy to those who prefer their raccoons with a side of sex appeal, Bradley Cooper has signed up for the role of Rocket Raccoon in Marvel’s latest team-up film Guardians of the Galaxy. In what is no doubt one of my most anticipated films of next year, Cooper joins an insanely odd cast that includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, former WWE wrestler Dave Bautista, John C. Reilly, and Vin Diesel who, of course, is voicing a tree. Under the helm of James Gunn, most notable amongst horror fans for scripting 2004’s Dawn of the Dead remake, it’s safe to say Marvel’s latest is going to be one of the stranger superhero films to come along during this most recent comic book adaptation boom.

I for one think the casting of Bradley Cooper is inspired as they could have very easily gone with a comedic actor known for voicing cartoon characters. Instead they chose a talented actor who gives the raccoon a certain amount of gravitas. Yes, I just said a raccoon now has gravitas. And hey, Cooper kinda resembles a raccoon as it is.

The comic book series upon which Guardians is based centers on a rag-tag group of ex-cons who set out on cosmic missions to save the Galaxy at all costs. The film Guardians of the Galaxy will hit theaters August 1st, 2014.

News courtesy of Marvel Studios.