Chris Pratt is currently promoting his new sci-fi film, Mercy, and during a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, he discussed his roles and future projects. While fans know him from significant franchises like Jurassic World and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, his portrayal of Star-Lord in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy series remains one of his most iconic roles. Pratt has played the character across three films, a Christmas special, and several Avengers movies.
Though future details of his character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) remain uncertain, leaked concept art suggests that Pratt may appear in upcoming titles such as VisionQuest, Avengers: Doomsday, and Avengers: Secret Wars. Marvel has teased fans with the promise that “The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return.”
Pratt’s casting as Peter Quill initially surprised many back in 2013. At the time, he was primarily recognized for his role in Parks and Recreation but had undergone a significant body transformation after gaining weight for his role in Delivery Man. He recalled a meeting with Marvel’s Kevin Feige, who showed him a picture from his previous role in Zero Dark Thirty and asked if he could get back in shape within six or seven months. With determination, Pratt committed himself to the task, saying, “Dude, I’ll kick that guy’s ass in seven months.” Shortly after, he received the call confirming he got the role.
Interestingly, Star-Lord is not the first superhero role Pratt pursued. He also auditioned for Captain America, a member of The Warriors Three in Thor, and even submitted a tape for Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Reflecting on this experience, he humorously admitted to feeling that his audition tape didn’t do him justice.
With James Gunn now leading DC Studios, speculation has arisen about Pratt potentially taking on roles like Booster Gold or even Batman. Pratt humorously shared that he sent Gunn a photo of himself wearing a Batman mask, but he feels he isn’t the right fit for the character, stating, “There have been so many Batmans. What do you do?”
Despite the uncertainties at Marvel, Pratt believes there’s still potential for Star-Lord’s character development. He supported Gunn’s choice to keep Peter Quill and Gamora apart at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, explaining that it provides more storytelling opportunities to explore Peter’s character and unresolved trauma.
When asked about his awareness of what lies ahead for Star-Lord, Pratt mentioned that Marvel’s plans are fluid, expressing his willingness to contribute to the storytelling. He hopes for Gunn’s return to continue Peter’s journey but recognizes that other talented directors may also take the reins.
For now, fans can enjoy Pratt’s latest role in Mercy, while eagerly anticipating what’s next for the beloved Star-Lord character in the ever-expanding Marvel universe.