‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’: James Gunn Defends Chris Pratt Amid Criticism

"Chris Pratt would never be replaced as Star-Lord."

Chris Pratt Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 James Gunn

Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn says Chris Pratt will not be replaced as Star-Lord following some recent online backlash.

Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt is facing criticism online for allegedly being part of a church that supports anti-LGBTQ+ views. The Star-Lord actor has also received hate online in the past for his political leanings, all of which have led to some petitions asking for his removal from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. On Twitter, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn came out to defend the actor.

The exchange began when a fan tweeted that Marvel should replace Chris Pratt with Aquaman star Patrick Wilson. James Gunn later debunked the rumor altogether in response to the tweet. You can see Gunn’s reponses below.

Before James Gunn’s sequel, Chris Pratt will turn up as Star-Lord in Thor: Love and Thunder. Here is the upcoming film’s synopsis:

The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.

Directed by Taika Waititi and produced by Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum, the film stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, and Russell Crowe.

Thor: Love and Thunder hits theaters on July 8, 2022, while James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled for May 5, 2023. Stay tuned for all the latest news on Chris Pratt’s future in the MCU as Star-Lord, and subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more original video content.

Source: Twitter

Ryden Scarnato

Ryden Scarnato

Ryden's affection for all things DC, Marvel, and Star Wars has led him to entertainment journalism at Heroic Hollywood as a News Editor.