Joel Edgerton on Failing ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Audition: “The World Is a Much Better Place”

The Guardians of the Galaxy could’ve looked a little different.

In an upcoming episode of The Playlist’s Bingeworthy podcast, Joel Edgerton revealed that he auditioned for the role of Star-Lord, which eventually went to Chris Pratt, in James Gunn’s Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise.

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“I, unlike Chris, didn’t quite sort of understand the tone of it the way he did and the way that those guys did,” Edgerton said on the show. “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.”

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

The Gift star sat down for the podcast with his Dark Matter co-star, Jennifer Connelly, who had a role in Marvel as Karen, the AI voice inside Tom Holland’s suit, in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

While Connelly didn’t return for Far From Home or No Way Home, she would “absolutely” be willing to be a part of the franchise again or the MCU in some capacity.

“I think that they make great films and my husband [Paul Bettany, who played Vision in the Avengers films] has had such a fantastic time working with all of them, and they have such a great group of actors working with them,” she said. “I would absolutely do it.”

Apple TV+’s Dark Matter is based on Blake Crouch’s novel of the same name. It follows Jason Dessen (Edgerton) after he is abducted into an alternate version of his life, according to the description. In order to return to his family, including wife Daniela (Connelly), he must embark on a journey to save them from himself.

The sci-fi series premiered on May 8 and will drop a new episode on the streamer every Wednesday until the finale on June 26.

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