James Gunn Would Have Cast Chris Pratt As Superman if Not for This One Problem

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As a movie reviewer, I’d rephrase it like this: During a chat on Dax Shepard’s podcast “Armchair Expert”, James Gunn, DC Studios co-head and Superman director, shared an intriguing insight about casting the new Man of Steel. He admitted that if age weren’t a factor, Chris Pratt might have been a strong contender for the role. Gunn emphasized that the key is finding the perfect fit for Superman, regardless of an actor’s fame or recognition. If Pratt were younger, he would have certainly been in the running to don the cape and embody Kal-El.

Gunn expressed that if the choice of actor for Superman was perfect, he wouldn’t object. Specifically, if Chris Pratt were ten years younger, Gunn might have thought about him for the role. Pratt has a youthful appeal, which…

Certainly, Pratt has a rich history with Gunn, having played Peter Quill/Star-Lord in all three of Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies as well as The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Although Pratt won’t be playing Superman, Gunn expressed his desire to include Pratt in the DC Universe franchise at some point. During an interview with ComicBook while promoting Superman, Gunn mentioned that Pratt is one of his dearest friends and he’s always searching for the perfect role for him.

Prior to Pratt joining the DC Universe, he might have some Marvel commitments to handle initially. Although Gunn’s tenure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ended, the post-credit scene in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” hinted that Star-Lord would reappear at a later time. It’s worth noting that Pratt isn’t part of the extensive cast in “Avengers: Doomsday” (likely because of his TV series, “The Terminal List”), but there’s a chance Star-Lord could show up in “Avengers: Secret Wars” or another Marvel project.

Chris Pratt’s portrayal of Superman might have been intriguing. He could have combined the humorous side of Clark Kent with the dramatic skills he displayed in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, which balance heart with humor. Pratt also has a down-to-earth charm that would make his Superman appealing to audiences. If Pratt had been cast as Superman after his successful roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, The LEGO Movie, Jurassic World, and others, there could have been concerns about overexposure. However, many well-known actors have breathed life into iconic characters before, such as Harrison Ford playing both Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson were already established stars when they took on the role of Batman. Pratt could have excelled in both the Star-Lord and Superman roles.

Gunn proposes an engaging thought that fame should not bar an actor from landing a specific role if they’re perfectly suited for it, and it’ll be captivating to see if he eventually casts Pratt in the DCU. On the other hand, there’s merit in the argument that David Corenswet’s lesser-known status could benefit him in playing Superman, as it might make it easier for viewers to accept him as the Man of Steel since they won’t have many prior expectations. Although Corenswet has worked on films such as ‘Pearl’ and ‘Twisters’, ‘Superman’ is his first time leading a project of this magnitude. With ‘Superman’ reviews commending his acting skills, it seems Gunn made an excellent decision.

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2025-07-10 00:14