Okay, so how many of you fans of Guardians of the Galaxy woke up this morning knowing you were going to learn the official title of the upcoming sequel by the end of the day? I know, me neither. But it happened, by gum. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige let it slip during a press event to promote Ant-Man, but writer-director James Gunn has confirmed it.

The Guardians will return in….Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2!

Gunn certified Feige’s unofficial revelation as pretty dang official today in a Facebook posting:

It was no surprise when Marvel announced a Guardians sequel at their big event last October. The original had just opened to rave reviews and bang-up box office and was on track to become one of the highest-grossing blockbusters of 2014.

The official title is no doubt in reference to the “Awesome Mix Vol. 2” that Chris Pratt‘s galactic goofball hero Peter Quill began listening to at the end of the first Guardians. It doesn’t completely break with sequel naming tradition – the number 2 is present in the title – but at the same time feels fresh and appropriate for what is undoubtedly Marvel Studios’ most unconventional franchise so far. It also brings back memories of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, which was split into two movies – Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2 – when it grew to be too long to be released as one.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will open in theaters on May 5, 2017. I’m assuming that most of the cast members who weren’t dead by the end of the first one will be back for more. I’m already in line. That wait, however….

[Source via ComingSoon.net]