Star-Lord returns: Chris Pratt confirms MCU comeback
The star already has some initial ideas in mind
Since the end of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3", it has been unclear when – and, more importantly, how – Peter Quill's story would continue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now we have confirmation: In a podcast with The Playlist, actor Chris Pratt confirmed Star-Lord's return to the MCU. The "Guardians" star remains in close contact with Marvel boss Kevin Feige and producer Louis D'Esposito. Together, they've discussed how Star-Lord's story could continue.
According to Pratt, concrete steps have even been taken in the meantime. This statement doesn't come as a complete surprise: It was already clear at the end of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" that the space hero's story was far from over. Earlier this year, Pratt explained on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast that he himself had a pretty clear idea of how Peter Quill's story could continue. He had even already presented his idea to Marvel. However, the actor kept the specific details to himself. At the same time, he explained that he could definitely see himself playing a central role in the development of the MCU in the coming years.
A comeback in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars?
There's certainly no shortage of possibilities. "Avengers: Doomsday" is one of the biggest MCU projects on the horizon, and the Russo brothers have already hinted at more surprises to come. An appearance in "Avengers: Secret Wars" is also a distinct possibility . Given the film's massive scale, Peter Quill could easily re-enter the fray there. His return to Earth would also make it much easier for Marvel to bring Star-Lord together with other well-known MCU heroes.
From Outsider to Key MCU Hero
Chris Pratt has been an essential part of the MCU for more than a decade . He made his first appearance in 2014 in "Guardians of the Galaxy". Under the direction of James Gunn, the self-proclaimed Star-Lord evolved into the leader of an unconventional team of heroes. Together with Gamora, Rocket, Groot, and Drax, he faced off against Ronan the Accuser and made the Guardians an integral part of the MCU. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" followed as early as 2017, in which Quill's past played a central role. Peter met his biological father, Ego, and came to realize that behind his friendly facade lay far darker intentions. At the same time, his relationship with his adoptive father, Yondu, deepened further.
By "Avengers: Infinity War" at the latest, Star-Lord and the Guardians had finally become part of the main MCU storyline. Peter met Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange for the first time and fought alongside them against Thanos. After the devastating snap, Quill also disappeared for five years before returning in "Avengers: Endgame" to take part in the final battle against Thanos.
Star-Lord then made a brief appearance alongside the Guardians in "Thor: Love and Thunder". At the end of 2022, he took center stage once again in "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special", before the latest major chapter of his story, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," followed in 2023. The third "Guardians" film also marked a turning point: Quill said goodbye to his former crew and returned to Earth, while Rocket took over as leader of a new Guardians team. While this initially brought an end to Peter's time as the group's leader, it did not mark the end of his story in the MCU – as the post-credit announcement of his return made clear.
