As you could probably tell from my review, I really enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. And while the music, the humor, and the action all play a role in making this unlikely franchise a success, I would propose that it is the cast of characters and the actors that portray them that are the special sauce. With that being said, when adding new characters to the mix, you don’t want to mess up the unique blend that made the first film resonate with audiences around the world.
But, if you are in need of some fresh blood, it is a safe bet to go with Disney Legend Kurt Russell. It should also be noted that he just received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame along with his longtime partner Goldie Hawn. (Fun Fact: The both appeared in the Disney film The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band in 1968. This was long before they were an item.) Russell is not only able to have the fun that is intrinsic in the franchise but also has the acting chops to give the role gravitas when it is required. Therefore, he seemed like a great choice to play Ego, Quill’s father, who is depicted as a living planet in the comics.
As Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige says, “In the case of Ego, Quill’s father, it’s a very unique character. You want the audience to have the same sort of rush as Peter does when he learns who it is. So when you have Disney legend, film icon Kurt Russell step out of that ship and announce himself to Peter, even when it was just a green screen on a small set on a sound stage, it was a chill-inducing moment. And that’s why you get Kurt Russell.”
Before he was approached for the role, Russell had not seen the original Guardians of the Galaxy as he doesn’t get to the movies much. But that all changed. “After I read the script, I watched the first movie,” Russell says. “I remember that six or seven minutes into the movie, Chris Pratt is walking along. Then the music starts up, and he kicks off one of those alien rats or whatever they were. And I immediately liked the movie. I liked the atmosphere. And I liked his character.”
He continues, “I began to see things that reminded me of some things in the past that related to things that I had been involved with and characters I had played. Then as I watched it unfold, I got it. I read the script again and began to look at it and understand what was being asked. I started looking forward to it because I thought it was going to be an interesting project. There was a father/son relationship here that I thought was very relatable and very interesting that 20, 30 or even 40 years from now will sustain more than just the entertainment value of what the viewer is watching.
His on-screen son Chris Pratt was a bit star-struck at first. “When I found out that Kurt Russell was playing Quill’s father, I was just thrilled. It was like sitting at the poker table with a great hand and then getting another ace dealt to you. It was just perfect casting and it couldn’t have worked out better. On top of the fact that he’s an exceptional actor, he’s also a really great guy.”
Pratt continued, “You promise yourself that you’re not gonna do this thing that happens every time you meet someone who’s an icon, someone that you’ve known way longer than they’ve ever known you. You promise yourself you’re not gonna do the thing where you geek out but it’s a little inauthentic if you don’t, because if you just go in there and you be like, ‘Oh what is it, Kurt? Hey, nice to meet you. Chris.’ And I don’t acknowledge the fact that how much I love him and what a fan I am, if you don’t get that out of the way, then it feels a little inauthentic. So I think I did that immediately, and then that takes, it doesn’t really take that long to tell someone that you really love them, you really respect their work, and for them to go, yeah thanks. And then, that’s it. At that point, you move forward and there’s this really cool thing that is probably the one thing I never would’ve imagined looking for when I first moved to Hollywood, but like the greatest, the greatest part of it, the biggest secret is you, is you become somebody’s friend and somebody’s peer rather than a fan.”
Of course, to fully appreciate the father-son dynamic between Russel and Pratt, you have to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which opens nationwide this evening. Meanwhile, I can’t help but wonder if Russell wants to complete the Disney franchise trifecta and appear in Star Wars: Episode IX.