Chris Pratt‘s sci-fi credits feature him playing the same kind of character, embodying Star-Lord’s personality, proving that the actor can’t break ties with the Marvel Cinematic Universe just yet. Although Pratt rose to prominence via his performance as the naive, hilarious Andy Dwyer in Parks and Rec, he has broken away from that type of role and has become an action hero. It all began when Pratt was cast to play Peter Quill/Star-Lord in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy in 2013. Since then, he has mostly focused on action and sci-fi projects (and a few animated movies).
Chris Pratt’s upcoming films include Mercy, a 2026 sci-fi thriller also starring Rebecca Ferguson, and Way of the Warrior Kid, a drama from McG based on Jocko Willink’s 2017 book of the same name.
Several of Pratt’s movies post-Parks and Rec have been mᴀssive commercial successes. Meanwhile, some haven’t been as favorable among critics, including Pratt’s 2025 Netflix sci-fi action-adventure movie. Most of the film’s negative reviews were critical of the story, calling it unoriginal and forgettable, but a few also mentioned how Pratt’s character is just like Star-Lord.
Chris Pratt Is Playing Star-Lord Again In The Electric State
Pratt Stars As John D. Keats
The Electric State stars Chris Pratt as John D. Keats and Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle Greene, an unlikely duo who team up with robots to find her lost brother in a retro-futuristic universe. The Netflix sci-fi action-adventure movie quickly became a global hit in the days following its premiere in March 2025. Unfortunately, though, The Electric State‘s reviews aren’t great, partly due to criticism of the cast’s performances. Some believe Pratt drew from his experience as Star-Lord/Peter Quill in the MCU to play Keats since the two characters are very alike.
Star-Lord and Keats’ similarities include their backgrounds, all-around looks, vibes, journeys, motivations, and more. Keats in The Electric State is essentially Pratt’s MCU character and the actor agrees. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Pratt reflected on the parallels between Peter Quill and Keats. He said:
“They’re both products of the same era, and so there’s a similarity in the sense of nostalgia for an era that’s bygone. Although it’s an alternate version [in Electric State], it’s the ’90s, and obviously, Quill has all of these pop culture references to the ’80s, things that helped inform him and who he was before he left Earth at 13. Keats is also a product of that time. So in that regard, they’re similar…He kind of feels like what Peter Quill could have been if he didn’t get picked up and go to space, but instead lived through a robot war and went on the run with his robot friend.”
Keats in The Electric State is Star-Lord all over again. Of course, this character archetype is what Pratt has become known for, so, his performance in the sci-fi film isn’t too surprising and is what some may expect from the actor now. Nevertheless, while watching the Netflix movie The Electric State, one can’t help but wonder if they accidentally clicked play on an MCU flick.
Star-Lord Is Still Chris Pratt’s Best Role
No One Can Compete With Peter Quill
While the Star-Lord archetype doesn’t often work in movies (like Keats in The Electric State), Chris Pratt’s iconic character has always felt right in the MCU. Consequently, Peter Quill is, without a doubt, Pratt’s best role, and his other characters (even Andy Dwyer) don’t come close. It would be difficult to argue against this conclusion.
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Chris Pratt’s Notable Movies & TV Shows |
Role |
|---|---|
|
Everwood |
Bright Abbott |
|
Parks and Rec |
Andy Dwyer |
|
Moneyball |
Scott Hatteberg |
|
The Lego Movie |
Emmet Brickowski (voice) |
|
Marvel Cinematic Universe (Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) |
Peter Quill/Star-Lord |
|
Jurᴀssic World series (Jurᴀssic World, Jurᴀssic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Jurᴀssic World Dominion) |
Owen Grady |
|
The Terminal List |
James Reece |
|
The Super Mario Bros. Movie |
Mario |
|
The Electric State |
John D. Keats |
Since his introduction in Guardians of the Galaxy, Pratt’s Star-Lord has been a delight to watch (aside from his big screw-up in Avengers: Infinity War). He is snarky, fun, complex, charismatic, and a natural leader, all of which make him a breath of fresh air amongst the broody heroes in the MCU. Even critics have often praised Pratt for his performance as Peter Quill. At least, when it comes to Pratt’s live-action roles, the actor hasn’t been able to repeat the success he has experienced with Star-Lord and Guardians of the Galaxy. So, Pratt can’t yet part ways with Marvel.
What Does Chris Pratt’s MCU Future Look Like?
Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Promised Star-Lord Would Return
The good news is that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 likely won’t be the last time fans see Chris Pratt as Star-Lord. During the 2023 MCU movie’s post-credits scene, the screen reads, “The Legendary Star-Lord will return.” Sadly, though, Marvel has yet to confirm where Star-Lord will appear next. Some speculated that Pratt would get his own TV show based on the Legendary Star-Lord comics. However, the most obvious option would be Pratt reprising his superhero role in Avengers: Doomsday in 2026.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
