Marvel Studios has finally ended its search for the lead in the forthcoming Phase Two space epic Guardians of the Galaxy, with Deadline revealing that Chris Pratt has secured the role of Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord, the half-human / half-alien leader of the futuristic team of superheroes.
Pratt, whose credits include Everwood, Parks and Recreation, Moneyball and Zero Dark Thirty, becomes the first name to join the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy, which is to be directed by James Gunn (Super). Other names said to have been on the not-so-shortlist for the role include Pratt’s Zero Dark Thirty co-star Joel Edgerton, along with the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Dark Knight Rises), Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire), John Krasinski (The Office), Zachary Levi (Thor: The Dark World), Lee Pace (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey), Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables), Jim Sturgess (Cloud Atlas), Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville), Wes Bentley (The Hunger Games), Chris Lowell (The Help) and Cam Gigandet (Priest).
Now that Pratt has been cast as Star-Lord, we can probably expect the rest of the team to fall into place soon. Isaiah Mustafa (the Old Spice guy), Brian Patrick Wade (The Big Bang Theory) and Dave Bautista (The Man with the Iron Fists) have all been linked to the role of Drax the Destroyer, and there’s been rumours that Jim Carrey (Kick-Ass 2) and Adam Sandler (That’s My Boy) could be on Marvel’s radar as possible candidates to voice either Groot or Rocket Raccoon.
Meanwhile it’s also been speculated that Gina Carano (Haywire), Olivia Wilde (Cowboys & Aliens), Kristanna Loken (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), Rachel Nichols (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), Adrianne Palicki (G.I. Joe Retaliation) and Rosario Dawson (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) could be in the frame for the Guardians’ sole female member Gamora. Considering all the names bandied about for Star-Lord, I’d suggest taking all these rumours with a huge pinch of salt.
Guardians of the Galaxy is scheduled for release on August 1st, 2014.
Originally published February 5, 2013. Updated April 10, 2018.
