Disney continues to quench its thirst for franchise reboots with its next rumored Indiana Jones project, and Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Lego Movie) is the desired candidate for the role of the whip-cracking archaeologist, according to a Deadline exclusive
Pratt, who recently soared into stardom with his performance as the roguish and charmingly dopey Peter Quill in the sci-fi adventure Guardians of the Galaxy, is enjoying an onslaught of popularity as rough and lovable protagonist as of late. His role as Emmet Brickowski in the well-received comedy The Lego Movie (already due for two sequels) and his work as the doughy goofball Andy on TV’s Parks and Recreation solidified his credibility as a comedic actor, but his role in Guardians seems to have marked a significant turning point in Pratt’s career.
On top of his physical transformation from a slightly overweight comic relief character to a chiseled leading man, Pratt’s rising fame has sent opportunities for dramatic fare his way. Guardians allowed audiences to see a more nuanced performance from Pratt, featuring him as a multi-dimensional character rather than simply a deliverer of jokes – and producers are taking notice.
Pratt agreed to star in Universal’s upcoming dramatic thriller Jurassic World, playing the skeptical park keeper Owen, and the actor is also rumored to be joining Denzel Washington in remake of the classic western The Magnificent Seven.
Despite his sharp rise in popularity, Pratt acknowledges the importance of his wife Anna Faris (Scary Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) and their 2-year-old son over his career:
I don’t want my kid to be 10, and I’ve done 20 movies. Some people can do that, but I’m going to do only the best stuff or nothing.
Even with this steadfast attitude, Pratt may not be able to escape the franchise fodder of modern Hollywood. Marvel has already announced the 2017 release date of Guardians of the Galaxy 2, and more production companies seem more than eager to capitalize on franchise sequels and reboots. Disney, the company behind the Indiana Jones reboot, has set precedent for movie remakes in the past few years, be it fashioning live-action versions of fairytales like The Jungle Book, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast, re-telling old stories from new perspective (see: Maleficent), or totally re-branding completed franchises (Star Wars VII, anyone?).
Considering their recent track record, an Indiana Jones remake seems to be a fitting next-installment for Walt Disney Pictures. And considering his recent career spike, the ruggedly endearing role of the adventurous Dr. Jones could be equally as fitting for Pratt.
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