The MCU has had three actors named Chris who have been major players in the franchise, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Pratt. Before entering the MCU, the three were relatively B-list actors in the industry and had done relatively small films and TV projects. Their fame and populated skyrocketed ever since they played Captain America, Thor, and Star-Lord, respectively. Marvel and Kevin Feige took big risks by approaching them to play iconic Marvel characters. Superhero movies are known for taxing their actors to maintain a lean physique and to be fit to be able to properly portray the characters. All MCU actors had to follow a strict regimen to achieve this.
Pratt too was determined to transform the role of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. He put in several hours of hard work at the gym and followed a strict diet to achieve the desired physique required for the role.
Chris Pratt Went Full Beast Mode To Portray Star-Lord in the MCU
Chris Pratt was previously known as the loveable and adorable chubby guy from Parks and Recreation. He was a comparatively unknown actor compared to someone like Chris Evans at the time. When he got the role of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy, he was set to make a complete physical transformation. He hired Duffy Gaver as his personal trainer who had high praise for Pratt regarding his enthusiasm. He told Muscle and Fitness,
“Chris’ athleticism is amazing. He is incredibly disciplined and his work ethic is phenomenal. He isn’t the client you have to push; he’s the type of client you have to pull down. If you were to walk into the gym when he was training, you would have thought for sure you’ve got a guy getting ready for the NFL Combine. He wanted more muscle, to be much leaner, and to be more fit. He wanted to do justice to the role.”
Pratt also said that it was “three or four hours a day of just consistent, ass-kicking hard work” to achieve his desired physical shape (to Men’s Journal). He even posted on Instagram with a picture showing off his transformation.
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His hard work and enthusiasm paid off as he became an overnight sensation and the film also became a huge success for the MCU. He became a big movie star from the success and he went on to do other highly successful movies like the Jurassic World franchise and the recent The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Chris Pratt is Open to Returning as Star-Lord But On One Condition
The original Guardians members had their last emotional hurrah in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Although it was the last appearance of all the major players of the team, the post-credits scene of the film promised that Star-Lord would return in future films of the MCU. Chris Pratt addressed that he is open to returning to the role as long as the MCU stays true to what James Gunn had created. He told GamesRadar,
“It would be strange to continue Peter’s story without James. He’s done such a masterful job in the first three films. We really found the voice of Peter Quill together and without him, obviously, I would never have had this opportunity. He writes it, he directs it, he dreams up the music, it’s his imagination on screen.
So, to continue to tell the story, it would really be important to honor what he’s done in the first three films and to honor what the fans have grown to love about the character and not simply do it because people might show up to pay for it, you know? So maybe down the road if something makes sense I would do it but it would really have to check a lot of the right boxes.”
Meanwhile, Pratt is basking in the success of his latest film The Super Mario Bros. Movie. He is also doing another voice-over role in Garfield. He will star in the upcoming Russo Brothers’ film The Electric State alongside Millie Bobby Brown, Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci, Jason Alexander, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, and Giancarlo Esposito. He will also return as James Reece in the second season of his hit show The Terminal List.
Sources: Muscle and Fitness, Men’s Journal, Instagram, GamesRadar+
