‘The Walking Dead’ star Michael Rooker joins ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ as Yondu

Marvel Studios dropped some major casting news as Michael Rooker, Merle on AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead, has signed on to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Michael Rooker turns the page on his role as Merle on ‘Walking Dead’ and will now join the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ coming in 2014.

Deadline reports in an April 16 article that Rooker will play Yondu, “who in Marvel lore was a game hunter of a primitive tribe native to Centauri IV, the first planet system to be colonized outside of the Sun’s solar system. He eventually bands together with fellow fugitives to form the superhero team.”

Yondu may be a surprise for fans based on the film’s concept art as fans assumed 2014’s Guardians film would star the most recent incarnation of the team. Chris Pratt has been cast as Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax and Zoe Saldana as Gamora.

The two CGI characters, Rocket Raccoon and Groot, are the only two Guardians left to cast.

Rooker has a long list of roles in film such as JFK, Days of Thunder and Super, but it’s his role as Merle on Dead which has captivated fans.

Guardians of the Galaxy will be released on August 1, 2014.