In the September issue of Esquire, Chris Pratt explains that he almost wasn’t slick outlaw Peter “Star-Lord” Quill in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY– because he initially turned down the role before he even auditioned!
When Guardians of the Galaxy was pitched to me, I said, ‘I don’t think so.’ I just didn’t picture myself getting the role,” Pratt says. “I didn’t want to go and embarrass myself like I did when I auditioned for G.I. Joe a couple of years previously. I went in there, and halfway through I saw the director’s eyes just glaze over. It made sense — I was a little heavy and out of shape. I was not gonna play someone from G.I. Joe. I did not look like a G.I. Joe action figure come to life.”
Pratt began a strict diet and exercise regimen to prepare himself for GUARDIANS and admitted to the magazine that he feels much more confident now that he can do a bit more.