After countless shortlist stories and rumors concerning who would play Star-Lord in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, the search for the lead role is finally over, and fittingly the actor is someone who never appeared on any of the aforementioned lists. Deadline reports that Chris Pratt has been tapped to play Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, a character who was born of a human mother and alien father, and is a master strategist and combat expert who wears an ability-enhancing suit and pilots a psychically-linked ship. As Guardians features a cast of strange and cosmic characters, Quill was an important role to fill because he will likely act as the audience’s introduction to the vast, unfamiliar Guardians world. Hit the jump for more.
There were plenty of actors rumored for the role that made a lot of sense (John Krasinski, Zachary Levi, etc.), and Deadline notes that Marvel made test deals with Joel Edgerton, Jack Huston, Lee Pace, and Eddie Redmayne, but Chris Pratt actually seems like a perfect fit. His comic timing is excellent as evidenced by his work on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, and he’s shown his talent on the dramatic side with Moneyball and 2012’s Zero Dark Thirty, for which he also proved that he can beef up for a role if need-be.
Looking back on the previous shortlists and taking Pratt into consideration, it’s clear that writer/director James Gunn is planning on injecting a good amount of humor into Guardians of the Galaxy. A rumor surfaced recently that Marvel was looking at possibly tapping Jim Carrey or Adam Sandler to do voice work in the film (one of the guardians is a talking raccoon), so I’m interested to see the tone that Gunn settles on for the finished film.
With the role of Star-Lord secure, Gunn and Marvel now look to filling out the rest of the cast, which includes the powerful Drax the Destroyer, a giant tree named Groot, the aforementioned Rocket Raccoon, and the female lead Gamora. The story is also rumored to involve the villain Thanos. Expect to hear more soon as production gears up to begin later this year. Guardians of the Galaxy will be released in 3D on August 1, 2014. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Aries Walker:
I get the feeling that a lot of the overwhelmingly positive reviews this movie is getting are due to the recency effect. When the dust settles, I think it will be mentioned as one of the best, but not the best. It has a few problems.
Every marvel movie has a few problems. I think Guardians is on par with Avengers and Cap 2. That said, I've never held either the first Iron Man or Captain America on the level that others do. They were good for basically introducing already mainstream characters. Guardians is something a whole lot more risky and I think a whole lot more ambitious, and the fact that they managed to pull it off so well is really something. [Reply]
Originally Posted by keg in kc:
Every marvel movie has a few problems. I think Guardians is on par with Avengers and Cap 2. That said, I've never held either the first Iron Man or Captain America on the level that others do. They were good for basically introducing already mainstream characters. Guardians is something a whole lot more risky and I think a whole lot more ambitious, and the fact that they managed to pull it off so well is really something.
In looking over comic book nerd rankings, it seems that Winter Soldier is Marvel's Empire Strikes Back. Many ranked that one as #1. Then in that second tier most had Iron Man, Avengers and Guardians. [Reply]
Originally Posted by keg in kc:
Every marvel movie has a few problems. I think Guardians is on par with Avengers and Cap 2. That said, I've never held either the first Iron Man or Captain America on the level that others do. They were good for basically introducing already mainstream characters. Guardians is something a whole lot more risky and I think a whole lot more ambitious, and the fact that they managed to pull it off so well is really something.
Exactly, and for Gunn to get to do it his way and Marvel, who has a history of allowing their directors very little creative license or delineation. It is ironic that Guardians probably had a less rigid blueprint due to its general obscurity, and, for me, a large reason I enjoyed it was because it wasn't another remake / known quantity.
Everyone has mentioned the soundtrack, and you're all right. The selection in juxtaposition with the onscreen action / scene was just delicious especially Cherry Bomb. [Reply]
Bitchin' ass soundtrack. After reading some of you old fart's reviews I was expecting some sweet classic metal (which sucks). I was pleasantly surprised to hear the 70's R&B or whatever-genre-those-songs-are..
Originally Posted by Swanman:
In looking over comic book nerd rankings, it seems that Winter Soldier is Marvel's Empire Strikes Back. Many ranked that one as #1. Then in that second tier most had Iron Man, Avengers and Guardians.
IMO... Guardians was hands down (as in it's not really close at all) marvel's best movie yet.
Avengers was only good for the 2nd half (I found the first half of the film straight up obnoxious) and the Winter soldier totally copped out on that plot twist.
I had a huge smile on my face from start to finish watching this film, and was expecting another over-hyped Marvel film... fun but forgettable. Instead I got one of the best sci fi action movies I've ever seen. [Reply]
Originally Posted by WhiteWhale:
IMO... Guardians was hands down (as in it's not really close at all) marvel's best movie yet.
Avengers was only good for the 2nd half (I found the first half of the film straight up obnoxious) and the Winter soldier totally copped out on that plot twist.
I had a huge smile on my face from start to finish watching this film, and was expecting another over-hyped Marvel film... fun but forgettable. Instead I got one of the best sci fi action movies I've ever seen.
It was definitely my favorite Marvel movie to date. I read the entire 2008 comic book run of Guardians, as well as some of the current issues and the Annihilation run that contains a huge amount of involvement with the Guardians (including Ronan as a good guy). The movie did a great job of getting enough of the backstory for each character right. Each character had small differences but by and large it got the overall picture really well.
Spoiler!
I don't know if this is spoiler tag material but the dog in the Russian spacesuit in The Collector's place is Cosmo, who in the comics basically runs Knowhere and can speak telepathically (with a Russian accent). That was definitely a wink and a nod to the comic readers. One little bit they did get right is in the comics Cosmo and Rocket HATE each other, so I giggled when Cosmo growled at him in the movie.
I think this was also the most visually impressive Marvel movie, and up there with some of the top movies. All the action was clear and crisp, not like transformers or Avengers. It was fun to see the action. [Reply]
This is a freaking awesome Chris Pratt video. Gets called out by DJ Whoo Kid about his love of Eminem, so he goes crazy doing an acapella "Forgot about Dre".
I saw this Saturday. This is my favorite popcorn click as an adult. I don't remember being entertained all the way through a movie like this since Star Wars or Indiana Jones as a kid. I personally thought it was by far Marvel ' s best movie to date. [Reply]
Originally Posted by okcchief:
I saw this Saturday. This is my favorite popcorn click as an adult. I don't remember being entertained all the way through a movie like this since Star Wars or Indiana Jones as a kid. I personally thought it was by far Marvel ' s best movie to date.
that was how I felt
like after star wars, raiders, army of darkness
I DON"T FUCKING CARE IF IT WAS GOOD, I LOVED IT
will see with my son again next kid weekend
VIN DIESEL FOR BEST SUPPORTING SPECIAL EFFECT [Reply]