Joel Edgerton ‘Didn’t ‘Understand the Tone’ of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ During Audition

Samantha Bergeson
·2 min read
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Joel Edgerton is glad he’s not part of the MCU, especially when it came to his possible casting for Star Lord in “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Appearing on The Playlist’s “Bingeworthy” podcast, Edgerton revealed that he “didn’t quite sort of understand the tone” of the comedy-action film that spurred a trilogy, despite auditioning for the lead role. Chris Pratt was later cast.

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“Star-Lord’s a good one, actually, because I, unlike Chris [Pratt], didn’t quite sort of understand the tone of it the way he did and the way that those guys did,” Edgerton said. “And I wasn’t really sure how I could be a part of that tone. And I truly think that the world is a much better place that I’m not Star-Lord, even if I had the opportunity or I did a good enough audition because it is the way it’s meant to be.”

Edgerton clarified that he wasn’t offered the part, but was part of the casting process.

“I was never a real conversation that it would have definitely been me,” he said. “I had the opportunity to try and audition. I just didn’t quite understand it.”

Pratt said during “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2023 that he almost didn’t audition for “Guardians of the Galaxy” after losing a part in “Thor.”

“I auditioned for them all. I had a rough run with Marvel,” Pratt said. “I auditioned for ‘Thor,’ but not even to be Thor — but to be one of the sidekick guys, and I didn’t get a callback. Usually they give you a little bit of feedback, and I remember the casting director goes, ‘Wow. You really made a big choice there.’ Which is code for like: ‘Hey, dial back the acting there, guy.'”

Pratt added, “It got to the point where I was never going to audition for Marvel again. I was like, ‘This is stupid, I’m never gonna be in a Marvel movie.'”

Of course, Pratt did go on to star in a slew of Marvel films, but that wasn’t the only role he struggled to land.

“It was not only just Marvel things but there have been a lot of heroic characters in various films,” Pratt said. “Not DC characters, but like, you know, ‘Star Trek’ or ‘Avatar.’ Anything that was like, ‘This guy walks in and he’s got the it-factor.’ Over and over again I was like, ‘Well, I definitely don’t have that it-factor they’re looking for because they don’t even want me to come back.'”

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