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Chris Pratt says he's open to returning as Star-Lord — even if James Gunn isn't directing
Nearly three years after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 closed the trilogy that defined Chris Pratt's Star-Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor is still publicly signaling his willingness to step back into the helmet — with or without the franchise's original auteur, James Gunn.
Pratt recently spoke on the Happy Sad Confused podcast about how the Guardians' future is currently in limbo at Marvel Studios. With the studio's near-term attention trained on Avengers: Doomsday and other slate priorities, there's no official roadmap for another Guardians installment yet. Still, Pratt stressed he remains eager to help shape what comes next.
Pratt's perspective: eager collaborator, patient planner
'Everything is in a sort of indefinite state right now,' Pratt said, acknowledging Marvel's slow, step-by-step planning process. He added that he'd be 'happy to do whatever they want' and hinted that he has ideas for the character's long-term arc — even describing a vision that could fit into a decade-long storytelling plan.
When asked whether he'd already proposed pitches or story beats for Star-Lord, Pratt replied that he's 'ready to help however I can' and believes he has strong ideas to offer. The message is clear: Pratt wants to remain part of the conversation, not just a placeholder until the studio decides on a director or creative team.
What about James Gunn?
James Gunn, who wrote and directed the Guardians trilogy, moved on to helm projects at DC and helped reboot Superman — a shift that left the Guardians without the filmmaker most closely associated with their tone. Pratt said that in a perfect world, Gunn would return to direct another Guardians movie, but he doesn't expect that to happen. Instead, Pratt suggested Marvel will need to find a different filmmaker who can honor the franchise's blend of humor, heart, and cosmic spectacle.
This is reminiscent of how the Avengers films evolved under the Russo brothers: different voices can still serve a larger, shared universe. The key is choosing a director who understands the established character dynamics while bringing fresh cinematic energy.
Broader context and fan reaction
Fans have vocalized mixed feelings about the Guardians' future — many eager to see more of Star-Lord and Rocket, others curious how the MCU will integrate cosmic threads into upcoming events. Industry-wise, this moment reflects a common franchise challenge: sustaining a beloved property after its signature creator departs.
Trivia: the Guardians trilogy helped redefine Marvel's cosmic side, combining 1970s/80s pop-culture soundtrack choices with irreverent humor — a template other MCU projects have adapted.
Whether Marvel chooses to revive the Guardians soon or fold Star-Lord into larger crossovers, Pratt's willingness to stay involved is an encouraging sign for fans. He seems ready not only to act, but to collaborate on the long game of storytelling.
A short final note: Marvel's cosmic corner is far from dead — it may just be taking time to find its next director and direction.
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