Once again casting for Marvel properties has taken a giant curve that no one could have ever seen coming. Zachary Levi, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Joel Edgerton, Lee Pace, and Garrett Hedlund are just some of the names said to be in the running to play Star Lord/Peter Quill – the half human/half alien hero – in Guardians of the Galaxy. Gordon-Levitt took his name out when he signed on for Sin City 2, and Levi is already in Thor 2, so those two were immediately written off. Reports had Pace having been approached by director James Gunn for the role.

But Deadline has word now that Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation and Zero Dark Thirty) has landed the lead role in the film.

Pratt recently took a departure from the comedy world to take a role in the military drama Zero Dark Thirty. His performance in that film as well as his role in Parks and Rec shows his versatility as an actor, which should do well for him in a movie like Guardians of the Galaxy given the action that Marvel is known for and the potentially comedic cast of supporting characters that include the likes of Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Drax the Destroyer, and Gamora. The casting of those roles as well as the villain of the film has yet to be announced.

Guardians of the Galaxy is aiming for an August 2014 release.

I really like this casting. Pratt is a hilarious actor and I loved his scene-stealing performances in The Five-Year Engagement. So now that we have one name checked off, who would you like to see cast in the remaining roles?

[Source: Deadline]