Chris Pratt, widely recognized for his comedic role in Parks and Recreation, transformed his career dramatically before being cast as Star-Lord in the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy. He surprised many by shedding his comedy image, notably by preparing physically for a smaller but significant role in Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty. Landing the role of Peter Quill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe shifted Pratt’s trajectory, establishing him as a major action star in Hollywood. Throughout his rise, the actor has credited director James Gunn for much of his success in the role.
Pratt’s Support for James Gunn Amid Controversy
In 2018, Disney dismissed James Gunn following the emergence of controversial Tweets, despite Gunn’s prior apologies. Chris Pratt was among the vocal supporters urging Disney to reinstate Gunn, emphasizing that neither he nor his co-stars wished to proceed with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 without the original filmmaker at the helm. Pratt openly expressed disapproval of Marvel’s initial decision and actively engaged with studio executives during the turmoil.
He recounted the tense conversations, stating,
“I remember it all clearly. I talked to Louis D’Esposito at Marvel, and he said they had to let James go. I told him it was a mistake. ‘You can’t do this.’ But it happened anyway. I reached out to James and said, ‘This isn’t over.’ I started praying on it and strategising. Dave Bautista defended him publicly in his own intense way.”
Pratt attributes the eventual reversal to high-level officials within Marvel and Disney, adding,
“But ultimately, the credit for bringing him back goes to the people at Marvel and Alan Horn at Disney. He realised it wasn’t right,”
and further praised Gunn’s character, saying,
“Some people get cancelled and then act in ways that justify it. James was incredibly classy. He owned everything. Once things settled, it was clear it was unfair. He got the job back because firing him was a glaring mistake.”
Behind the Scenes: How Pratt Won the Role of Star-Lord
Pratt also reflected on the casting process and what convinced Gunn that he was the right fit for Star-Lord. During his initial screen tests, Pratt did not yet feel he had fully secured the part but remained optimistic. A close friend, Ben Davis, who read opposite him as Drax, shared positive feedback from Gunn’s team:
“I didn’t know that I had it yet, but I was screen testing and felt pretty solid. I thought I could get this. My close friend Ben Davis was doing the Drax readings for James and gave me some inside information about what people said after my first screen test. He told me, ‘This is yours to lose. Just keep doing what you’re doing.’ But when I did the scenes with the Gamora character—the Fooled Around and Fell in Love scene—I wasn’t good. James thought I was blowing it. Then he saw me and Dave Bautista improvising together, saw that dynamic between us, and thought, okay, we can make this movie work.”
This improvised interaction with co-star Dave Bautista helped convince Gunn that Pratt’s portrayal could carry the film’s unique tone and chemistry among the leads.
Future of Star-Lord and James Gunn’s Role in the MCU
Chris Pratt has expressed his eagerness to continue portraying the iconic Star-Lord character, with industry speculation suggesting his involvement in upcoming Marvel projects such as Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. However, James Gunn’s transition to leading DC Studios signals that he will not return to direct future MCU Guardians films. This change suggests new creative leadership will oversee potential sequels in the Guardians franchise, marking a new chapter for the series without Gunn’s direct involvement.
The actor’s ongoing association with the Marvel universe highlights the strong connection forged between him, the character, and fans, despite the turbulence surrounding the guardians’ creative team.
