Chris Pratt, who portrays Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord, has officially confirmed his character's return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor shared this news during an interview on The Playlist's Bingeworthy podcast, stating that significant steps have been taken to ensure Star-Lord's next appearance.
Star-Lord was last seen at the end of 2023's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, a film that marked the conclusion of director James Gunn's trilogy. The ending saw Peter Quill return to Earth, seemingly settling into a quieter life. However, a post-credits scene in the film promised "The legendary Star-Lord will return."
Pratt elaborated on the ongoing conversations with Marvel Studios executives, including Kevin Feige and Lou D’Esposito, regarding the fulfillment of this promise. "Yeah, you'll see Star-Lord again, which is very exciting, but I'm not at liberty to say when that's going to be, but he's not going anywhere," Pratt stated. He also mentioned having a clear vision for how Star-Lord could contribute to the MCU's future storytelling.
Previously, Pratt had expressed his willingness to participate in future MCU projects, noting that Marvel takes a step-by-step approach to planning. He has indicated an understanding of how his character might be integrated into the larger narrative arc, particularly with the upcoming Avengers films, Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Pratt's tenure as Star-Lord began with 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy and has included appearances in sequels, the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and a cameo in Thor: Love and Thunder.
Given the multiversal scope of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, Star-Lord's return could occur in various contexts. The cast for Doomsday has been largely revealed, with directors Joe and Anthony Russo hinting at further surprise appearances. Additionally, a potential return could align with the recently announced Nova movie, which is expected to feature Richard Rider. Star-Lord's established connection with the Nova Corps might facilitate a team-up scenario.
Pratt's involvement in The Terminal List season 2, which recently debuted on Prime Video, is his latest project outside of the MCU.