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]
SFX 233 Preview: Marvel Boss On Phase 2
The ever-enthusiastic guiding light behind Marvel’s movie universe, Kevin Feige, speaks to SFX about Marvel Phase 2 in SFX #233, available to buy from Wednesday 6 March. We’re not going to give away all the juicy exclusives on-site, but here’s a couple of extracts to be going along with…
Originally Posted by : SFX: Phase 2 of Marvel Studios’ films has been described as “cosmic.” Is that a fair description?
Kevin Feige: “I wouldn’t say that in a broad sense. The Thor film and the Guardians Of The Galaxy film certainly are cosmic. Guardians and Thor will take the brunt of the cosmic side of the universe, particularly Guardians, which is 95% in space. I think Iron Man 3 shows the other side of Phase 2, which is delving deeper into the characters. Throwing them on a much more personal journey. And Captain America will showcase… What’s exciting to me about Cap – sort of about Iron Man 3 too if you look at it – is it’s tonally almost like a different genre. Shane Black’s described Iron Man 3 as a Tom Clancy sort of political thriller, which I like a lot. We hired our directors on Cap because they loved our explanation that we really want to make a ’70s political thriller masquerading as a big superhero movie. Just like with the first film – we got Joe Johnston because we said, ‘We want to do a ’40s World War Two movie masquerading as a big superhero movie.’ I love that we’re doing a sequel to a film that’s a completely different genre than the first film. I think that’s fun. And the comics do it all the time.”
Originally Posted by : Will Guardians Of The Galaxy prove as integral to Avengers 2 as each Avenger’s solo film?
“I would say that it does not. It’s much more of a standalone film. It takes place in the same universe. And when we’ve been on the other side of that universe in other movies, you might see those characteristics in Guardians, but the Avengers are not involved with what’s happening out there at this time.”
Chris Pratt is the actor who plays Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation, and has been tapped to play the lead in this movie. He married Anna Faris. Has been since July 2009 and remains to present. One child.
James Gunn is the director of this movie. He came from St. Louis, as did Jenna Fischer. They were married 2000-2008, and have divorced amicably. Not to confuse this further, but his brother Sean was townie character Kirk on Gilmore Girls. [Reply]
I'll bet anything they are going to show Thanos going after one or more of the Infinity Gems in this movie.
I haven't bought a comic since I was 12, but the thought of Thanos+IGs vs. The Universe makes me JIMP. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Setsuna:
Who was the guy whose voice could destroy the world/universe and what group was he a part of? And what comic book company was he made from?
Perhaps you're thinking of the Marvel character Black Bolt? His voice can destroy a city.
I'm not familiar with a character whose voice can destroy the world or universe. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Setsuna:
Who was the guy whose voice could destroy the world/universe and what group was he a part of? And what comic book company was he made from?
Originally Posted by Javabean:
Perhaps you're thinking of the Marvel character Black Bolt? His voice can destroy a city.
I'm not familiar with a character whose voice can destroy the world or universe.
Yeah, Black Bolt is probably who you're thinking of. I don't think he could destroy the universe but, at his strongest point, maybe a planet. He's a part of the Inhumans, I believe. [Reply]
Originally Posted by beach tribe:
I'll bet anything they are going to show Thanos going after one or more of the Infinity Gems in this movie.
I haven't bought a comic since I was 12, but the thought of Thanos+IGs vs. The Universe makes me JIMP.
It's a hard story to tell without the Surfer in it. I don't remember if the FF movie character rights are impossible to get for supporting characters or cameo's... [Reply]
Originally Posted by Setsuna:
Who was the guy whose voice could destroy the world/universe and what group was he a part of? And what comic book company was he made from?
As others already said his names Black Bolt leader of the Inhumans.
He also led a small group of Inhumans who were part of his royal family.
This team ventured out of their safe home to help the FF or avengers at times of need.
The smallest whisper from Black bolts lips could take down a mountain.
Originally Posted by Javabean:
Perhaps you're thinking of the Marvel character Black Bolt? His voice can destroy a city.
I'm not familiar with a character whose voice can destroy the world or universe.
Originally Posted by ThaVirus:
Yeah, Black Bolt is probably who you're thinking of. I don't think he could destroy the universe but, at his strongest point, maybe a planet. He's a part of the Inhumans, I believe.
Originally Posted by Rausch:
Neat little fan vid someone put together that kind of shows Black Bolt's power. Just a whisper and there's huge destruction...
Originally Posted by The Iron Chief:
As others already said his names Black Bolt leader of the Inhumans.
He also led a small group of Inhumans who were part of his royal family.
This team ventured out of their safe home to help the FF or avengers at times of need.
The smallest whisper from Black bolts lips could take down a mountain.
WOW. Seriously guys :-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-) I don't have enough hands! Thank you for that. It was the Inhumans I was thinking of. That would be a much better movie to make than a powerful raccoon. My dad liked them too. Black Bolt sounds awesome. Does Black Canary hold a candle to him? Or is she his daughter or something? This is so interesting! :-):-) [Reply]
