🐱 James Gunn defends Chris Pratt amid calls to recast him in Guardians of the Galaxy

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/chris-pratt-james-gunn-guardians-galaxy-b2065463.html

Guardians Of The Galaxy director James Gunnhas defended the film’s star Chris Pratt amid calls for his removal from the franchise.

The Star-Lord actor is facing renewed scrutiny after appearing in the trailer for the new Thor movie, Love and Thunder.

Fan discontent with the actor stems from his involvement in an evangelical Christian church, which was accused in 2019 of being “anti-gay” by Elliot Page. Pratt denied this claim, along with unsubstantiated rumours that he was a Trump supporter.

On Monday (25 April), Gunn hit back at a side-by-side photo of Pratt and actor Patrick Wilsontweeted by a fan with the caption: “Marvel. Hear me out. Just… replace him.”

Gunn responded: “For what? Because of your made-up, utterly-false beliefs about him? For something that someone else told you about him that’s not true? Chris Pratt would never be replaced as Star-Lord but, if he ever was, we would all be going with him.”

Another person asked the director if he was “cool with him being part of a homophobic church,” to which Gunn replied: “He isn’t.

“I know the church he currently goes to. Do you? (The answer is you don’t, but you heard from someone who heard from someone who heard from someone where he goes to church, so decided, ‘yeah, okay, I’ll believe this terrible thing I heard online about this celebrity!’)”

The Independent has contacted representatives for Pratt for comment.

This is not the first time one of Pratt’s Hollywood colleagues has leapt to his defence. In October 2020, various Avengers stars stepped in after the internet voted him “the worst Hollywood Chris”.

Robert Downey Jr, who played Iron Man in the blockbuster films, wrote on Instagram: “What a world... The ‘sinless’ are casting stones at my brother, Chris Pratt... A real Christian who lives by principle, has never demonstrated anything but positivity and gratitude.”

Referring to Pratt’s marriage with Katherine Schwarzenegger, daughter of Arnold, Downey Jr added: “AND he just married in to a family that makes space for civil discourse and (just plain fact) INSISTS on service as the highest value.”

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled to be released on May 5, 2023.

 

[Reverend]

For once in a long time I agree with James Gunn. Twitards have no clue what they are spouting about.

 

[Meat Target]

Robert Downey Jr, who played Iron Man in the blockbuster films, wrote on Instagram: “What a world... The ‘sinless’ are casting stones at my brother, Chris Pratt... A real Christian who lives by principle, has never demonstrated anything but positivity and gratitude.”

That is a refreshingly wholesome take, especially from Hollywood.

Reminds me of what Bryan Cranston said about cancel culture: we need forgiveness instead.

 

[StalinMan53]

Chris Pratt did nothing wrong.

 

[Cousin It]

Chris Pratt has never said anything openly anti-gay right? These retards are only screeching over the mere fact he goes to church?

God, I can only imagine the sheer horror actors must be feeling right now watching this. Some of them have to be waking up to the fact that if the purity spiral is coming for one of the Marvel darlings that has literally said nothing publicly controversial it will not just stop at him.

 

[That Chris Guy]

I didn't even like GotG...or Jurassic World....or Magnificent Seven remake....or Passengers...and I still don't hate Pratt for it.

That they're going after his choice of religion and politics when he remains very private about the whole thing as a reason to cancel him goes to show how much of a witch-burning cult they've turned into.

 

[Poppavalyim Andropoff]

who cares I can't see him as anything but Andy

 

[FoolhardStar]

That is a refreshingly wholesome take, especially from Hollywood.

Reminds me of what Bryan Cranston said about cancel culture: we need forgiveness instead.

Downey Jr. likely remembers what it feels like to be dumped by Hollywoo and not be forgiven or even considered human until you're an asset again, considering his previous issues. One of the few (currently living) celebrities I can say I like.

 

[Meat Target]

Chris Pratt has never said anything openly anti-gay right? These retards are only screeching over the mere fact he goes to church?

God, I can only imagine the sheer horror actors must be feeling right now watching this. Some of them have to be waking up to the fact that if the purity spiral is coming for one of the Marvel darlings that has literally said nothing publicly controversial it will not just stop at him.

I didn't even like GotG...or Jurassic World....or Magnificent Seven remake....or Passengers...and I still don't hate Pratt for it.

That they're going after his choice of religion and politics when he remains very private about the whole thing as a reason to cancel him goes to show how much of a witch-burning cult they've turned into.

They declare you guilty by association. Remember that girl from the US version of The Office that got burned at the stake in effigy for taking part in a beauty pageant that had some distant connection to something racist?

 

[Gar For Archer]

Chris Pratt has never said anything openly anti-gay right? These retards are only screeching over the mere fact he goes to church?

God, I can only imagine the sheer horror actors must be feeling right now watching this. Some of them have to be waking up to the fact that if the purity spiral is coming for one of the Marvel darlings that has literally said nothing publicly controversial it will not just stop at him.

They are literally just buttmad that Chris Pratt is openly Christian, and that he (and RDJ, I think) refused to show up to a Biden fundraiser event.

Far as I’m aware he’s not preachy and doesn’t try to push his religion onto others, nor has he expressed any fundamentalist Christian beliefs. In fact I believe he has specifically stated that he is against that sort of proselytization.

It isn’t even an issue of him spewing hot takes that go against the narrative, he just willfully refuses to be bullied into compelled speech. That he dares to disobey his intellectual betters without actually saying anything spicy is what REALLY makes the shitlibs seethe, because they have a much harder time smearing him when somebody asks, “…so what has he done wrong exactly?”

That is a refreshingly wholesome take, especially from Hollywood.

Reminds me of what Bryan Cranston said about cancel culture: we need forgiveness instead.

See above, if my memory serves RDJ was also part of this nontroversy. That he’s coming out voicing support for Chris Pratt shouldn’t be surprising, as I doubt he’s much of a Hollywood liberal himself.

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

It is literally easier to be an admitted child rapist in Hollywood than being openly Christian.

 

[CatParty]

I doubt he’s much of a Hollywood liberal himself.

He’s into environment and criminal reform and a vegan but pretty much keeps to himself otherwise

 

[Bob Loblaw Law Blog]

why aren't these idiots calling for Amber Heard to be replaced? You know someone who actually did something harmful to many people?

 

[White Devil]

Reminds me of what Bryan Cranston said about cancel culture: we need forgiveness instead.

I'm still curious if it's true about the rumors (which predate Twitter) of Bryan Cranston standing by while the boys from Malcolm in the Middle were passed around backstage.

 

[Meat Target]

why aren't these idiots calling for Amber Heard to be replaced? You know someone who actually did something harmful to many people?

Women can do no wrong.

 

[byuu]

Actors are there to look pretty and say lines, who cares what they believe?

 

[CHARizard]

Chris Pratt is hilarious, and his personal beliefs should have no bearing on his acting ability as a space trucker.

 

[Gar For Archer]

He’s into environment and criminal reform and a vegan but pretty much keeps to himself otherwise

Well, I guess it’s fairly understandable why someone like RDJ would be genuinely into criminal reform.

 

[The Magnificence]

I have no issue with this particular Chris other than being reminded he exists for some reason; by the same token, it would seem trivial for Disney to find another bland but conventionally attractive Chris who would not draw undue attention to himself - after all they have what, three or four already? The point I'm trying to make here is who gives a fuck, really? There's a duck that finds corpses in another thread.

 

[Cousin It]

I have no issue with this particular Chris other than being reminded he exists for some reason; by the same token, it would seem trivial for Disney to find another bland but conventionally attractive Chris who would not draw undue attention to himself - after all they have what, three or four already? The point I'm trying to make here is who gives a fuck, really? There's a duck that finds corpses in another thread.

I'm all for Disney hiring detective duck as a replacement for Chris Pratt.