Glen Powell: Chris Pratt's Guardians Role Redefined Hollywood Leads

Twisters star Glen Powell believes Chris Pratt's turn as Star-Lord in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy set a new template for Hollywood leading men.

In a GQ profile, Powell noted that Pratt's portrayal in James Gunn's 2014 blockbuster was transformative because the character "wasn't brooding or dark."

"I remember when Chris Pratt broke out in Guardians of the Galaxy," Powell said. "It definitely made an impact—that lighter, more comedic approach. I'm not like Christian Bale, who brings that intense gravitas, or [Robert] Pattinson with his specific style.

"When Pratt arrived on the scene with a more playful and buoyant energy, that's where I feel most at home. I think that's a gear I can play, and it's a necessary flavor in Hollywood that not every actor can pull off."

Powell credits Pratt's success with paving his own path to stardom. He contrasted Pratt's role with the darker personas of Christian Bale's Batman or Robert Pattinson's Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga.

Pratt's Star-Lord represented a different kind of hero—one who was humorous and lighthearted. The role was a major hit for Marvel and catapulted Pratt's career to new heights.

Will he return as Star-Lord for Avengers: Doomsday? His name was notably missing from the initial cast announcement, a point Pratt later joked about. "I don't know! I think it was just, like, further down the list," Pratt told Collider when asked. "Maybe they cut away from it. I'm not sure what happened. But I'm sure it was there."

As for Powell, he is next set to star as the lead in Edgar Wright's The Running Man, scheduled for release on November 14.