Chris Pratt: The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Interview

Thank you to Disney and Marvel Studios for hosting me during the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Event.

Chris Pratt is charming, handsome and an all around nice guy. He likes cheese and crackers, Kurt Russell and the enthusiastic greeting he got when he entered a room full of bloggers for an interview about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This was definitely one of those times when you wished you had a few extra hours to just hang around and chat.

How does Chris feel about the final version of the film?

I saw it about a week and a half ago for the first time, and last night [the premiere] was the second time. I was so relieved when I saw it because I knew-like the script-that movie is exactly how the script read. When I read the script, I knew it was good, but there’s so much stuff that can happen between reading the script, and then watching the movie, you know? There’s so many moving parts, some of which I’m responsible for. So, I was like, “Please, still be good.” I was just relieved to see that the movie was as good as the script.

There’s a point in the movie where Peter has to show a very intense and angry reaction. (I’m not saying more because it’s a major spoiler.) How did Chris prepare for that scene?

That’s something that for me as an actor is one of the hardest things for me to do, channel anger, because I do it so rarely in my real life. Not saying that that’s healthy. Don’t really do it that often. And so, I think often times how we behave in the real world, that type of behavior’s really easy to do as an actor, for me at least, real natural stuff. But for me to like look someone in the eye and yell at ‘em, and tell them what they did to me, that they wronged me, that I’m pissed off, that type of thing is not something I do that often. So it was hard for me to get there. And when you can’t use just the natural empathy for your character that you’re playing, this character that you’re playing that you love and you have to have empathy for them, and then you feel their emotions. Because, you know, if that doesn’t work to get you there, you have to rely on some sort of tricks to work rather from the inside out, but from the outside in. And I think that’s what I had to do in that scene. So, it was actually not as emotional for me as it was kinda practical. Like creating a center, creating a loud voice. James [Gunn, director] really helps me with that stuff, and it’s just a lot about energy, and heightening your energy, and grounding it, and being direct. That’s something that doesn’t come that natural to me. So, I’m glad that if you think it worked, that’s good. That makes me feel happy.

What was it like working with Kurt Russell? 

Ah man, everyone on my team, everyone who’s been hanging out with him, they’re just like, “He’s such a great dude.” And, he really is, man. You know, I’ve heard a few people say, “It really feels like you guys could be father and son.” We share a lot of the same passions. He’s a really cool guy. He’s a really open book. [You] definitely know where you stand with him. He tells it like it is, and I really like that. You know, obviously he’s this iconic dude. I’ve known about him for decades before he ever knew I existed. There’s always that strange moment when you meet someone and you’re a big fan, you feel like you have to tell him, because otherwise you try to build a friendship and it’s a little inauthentic, you know? You just say, “Listen, I have to get this part out of the way, but I love you so much. Oh, you’re the best. You’re the best. You’ve always been the best.” And he goes, “Yeah, I know. Thanks.” And, all right, let’s get to it.

Was there anything Chris did on the set, off script, that made it into the movie? 

James really knows my voice, and especially in the second movie [he] has written the script in a way that it sounds like stuff I would improv. There are a few jokes that I improved that made it. I think the thing about, “If the thing between my legs had a hand on it…” That was improv. I was talking to James about that today. On the day it wasn’t that funny. It was just like we’d done that scene a bunch of times, and they had to do it again because they needed to get something else. I knew they already had whatever the line [was] that was written. I knew when they already have it, that’s my room to play. You’re gonna throw this take away anyways, I’m just gonna [say] whatever I want. 

If you follow Chris on Instagram, you know snacks are a big deal. So what is his favorite snack and what does he think Peter Quill’s favorite snack would be?

Peter Quill’s shirt in the movie, if you see that, that’s his favorite snack, because that’s actually a label from-this is a little Easter egg-but from the first movie, there was some candy on the table and I think I’m eating some of the candy. I don’t know if that ever made it in the movie. James really loved the label. The art department had gone the lengths of creating this language, and created a label for some candy. So he put that label on the shirt. So, that’s like a snack that Peter Quill likes to eat. There’s a real language and it says something. But, that’s probably his favorite snack.

I like cheese and crackers and Crudités, that kind of thing, you know what I mean? Is that what it’s called, Crudités? Sausage and cheese and crackers, it’s like Italian? Yeah, like cheese, crackers, and mustard and that kind of thing. If I could, I’d just-I could live on that. I’d get fat.

How does he stay in shape between film roles? 

If I’m gonna be fully authentic, I’m pretty careful about when I reveal myself to the public. I do it in a way to make you think that I’ve kept it off the entire time, but I haven’t. Seriously, like I kinda keep tight, close to what I need to be, but I have to live my life as well. So, when I do a shirtless scene, or I do a magazine cover, or I do a photoshoot that I know is gonna get a lot of press, I then dial it in so that I can take a good picture…

The best way to think about it is not to have a weight goal. It’s not to say, “My goal is 225 pounds.” That’s not my goal. My goal is six months. It’s six months of consistency. Go to the gym, or do something every day for six months. See if I can do that. Make the goal consistency. Build up a bunch of consistency and make it more of a lifestyle. 

What inspires his desire to give back to the community?

I actually credit Russell Wilson. I think I saw how he did it, and I was like, this guy’s awesome. He’s open about his faith. He is a superstar quarterback, and, you know, I have a pretty healthy and not that secret man crush on him. I saw how he did it, and what he did up at Seattle Children’s Hospital. I remember-around the time that I got Guardians of the Galaxy–I remember thinking to myself, if this thing does what it could potentially do, and there’s a world where it would mean something for me to go do that, I’ll definitely do it, you know? I get that from Russell Wilson, but I think if I credit Russell Wilson, he wouldn’t take the credit. He’d give the glory to God, he would say that it was his faith. So, I think it’s the same kind of thing. I really love how he does it, and I have to credit some of that with him.

How does he balance work and family life?

Thanks for asking me that question. That’s a good question. I know Anna gets asked that question all the time, and she’s like, “How come no one ever asks you that question?”

I think it’s not easy. It’s a lot of  just communication. We have help. We have to just plan everything… You manage it by just making sure everyone is doing what they need to be doing. You check in with everyone. And I have a staff of people who work for me…I just focus on what I can do. I think you don’t have to be present to be a presence, and with technology now, FaceTime, little tricks, little things like that. Checking in every day, and nurturing your relationship with your spouse, and not making it just about the kids is important. We were just in London, and I hadn’t seen them in a while, but they got to come visit me, and stay with me for a few weeks. We took a weekend trip for ourselves to go to Paris, and left Jack behind. And as much as we were-when we were there-we’re like, “God, it’d be really fun if Jack was here,” it was good for us to be out there by ourselves, and do that. So, I think just prioritize, and work on…make lists, and probably you’re gonna fail. Some of the time, you know? Do your best.

Make sure you follow along with all of my Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 event coverage right here!

Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand.