Looks like 2017 is shaping up to be a bountiful year for fans of Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Gamora and Drax the Destroyer. Disney XD today ordered a second season of its toon series Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy to bow that year, with the live-action theatrical sequel starring Chris Pratt due in May 2017.

Since its September bow, the series has drawn 4.4 million unique total viewers including 1.9 million kids 2-11, the cable net said. Season 2 will dive deeper into the Guardians’ universe, with the ragtag gang teaming with the Avengers to stop the High Evolutionary, an evil mad scientist. After an epic battle, the Guardians discover an ancient weapon with mysterious powers. With every alien baddie in the galaxy trying to get their hands, paws and tentacles on this weapon, the Guardians must unlock its secrets before it destroys them and everything they’ve sworn to protect.

“We are thrilled at the positive response to Guardians from fans of all ages, and we are looking forward to bringing them more adventures with these dynamic characters,” said Dan Buckley, Marvel’s President of TV, Publishing & Brand Management. “There are so many possibilities with the Guardians franchise, and Season 2 will take viewers even deeper into this rich universe.”

Will Friedle, Trevor Devall, Vanessa Marshall, David Sobolov, Kevin Michael Richardson and James Arnold Taylor star in Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy, which is produced by Marvel Animation. Executive producers Alan Fine, Dan Buckley, Joe Quesada and Jeph Loeb exec produce the series, which counts Stan Lee among the co-EPs.

“The team at Marvel Animation continues to deliver great stories that capture the tone and spirit of the feature film and provide entirely new chapters to the Guardians of the Galaxy story,” said Marc Buhaj, SVP Programming and General Manager at Disney XD.