After the solo sequels Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Marvel Studios is set to take its Cinematic Universe into deep space for the penultimate entry in Phase Two, Guardians of the Galaxy, which sees Parks and Recreation’s Chris Pratt leading a team of cosmic superheroes as Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star Lord. During an interview with Pratt ahead of the release of his latest film Delivery Man, The Huffington Post managed to grab a few words from the Guardians’ leader about the tone of the James Gunn-directed superhero ensemble.
“It should be really fun. I think it should be really fun. But, that being said, it takes the dramatic beats seriously. I men, it takes itself seriously when it needs to. Just as a whole it doesn’t take itself too seriously. But, it definitely takes it’s dramatic moments seriously. And the dramatic arcs and the bits of emotion that you’re supposed to feel something that you’re supposed to feel something that I think you really will. But, hopefully, it will be because it’s anchored to this comedy. Like, to the comedy that lives in it. If you tie comedy and drama together, than you don’t have to go as big to get laughs and you don’t have to go as big to get a real emotional response.”
Pratt also gave some insight into the audition process: “For me it felt like a perfect fit right off the bat. I felt like at my very first audition that I nailed it, but, I was afraid that I wasn’t physically right for it because I was still pretty big from this movie. And so I just thought, If they could just believe in me, then I can lose this weight, then I’ll get this role. But I had a feeling it was a little too much weight to expect any person to lose — I was determined at that point. I was like, Well, you know what, if I’m not going to get this, that’s fine. But no one is ever going to tell me that I’m too fat for a role again. I’m going to start getting in shape. So I started getting in shape right away. We wrapped Delivery Man right around this time last year — oh my gosh, what a year — and I had gotten heavy, heavy, heavy and I went through the holidays and I continued to gain weight. Then, right at Jan 1st, I started working out. Then around the 15th, this audition came up. So I had lost probably 10 pounds … but I was still around 280 and that’s too big to be a Marvel character. But, it was in the audition. I mean, I knew he had my spirit — I knew that my spirit was right. And I knew it sounded right, I just didn’t look right yet.”
Guardians of the Galaxy is set for release on August 1st 2014 with Pratt joined in the cast by Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Gamora, Dave Bautista (Riddick) as Drax the Destroyer, Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious 6) as Groot, Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) as Rocket Raccoon, Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead) as Yondu, Benicio Del Toro (Sin City) as The Collector, Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) as Nebula, John C. Reilly (Step Brothers) as Rhomman Dey, Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) as Korath the Pursuer and Glenn Close (Damages) as the leader of the Nova Corps.
Originally published November 19, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
