A fantastic piece ofpotential casting newsarrived a few weeks ago in the form of an update on Marvel’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. We learned that hot on the heels ofMatthew McConaugheypassing on a role in the highly anticipated sequel,Kurt Russellwas being eyed by Marvel and writer/directorJames Gunn. Not only that, but the part that Russell is being sought for is that of Star-Lord’s father—a pitch perfect piece of casting considering the swagger ofChris Pratt’s character.
The report cautioned that this was still in theveryearly stages, with discussions between Russell and Marvel having not even taken place yet, and indeed Russell himself now confirms that he’s onlyjustspoken to Gunn. Not only that, but during his appearance on theHappySadConfused podcast(viaCBM), theHateful Eightactor admits he still hasn’t seenGuardians of the Galaxy:
“I literally got a phone call two days ago about this. I’ve never seenGuardians of the Galaxy. I don’t know anything about it. I’m one of the four idiots that’s never seen it. Many times I’ve heard ‘That’s a really fun movie, a really good movie [with] great characters.’ I don’t know it.”
It’s tough to agree to be in a sequel to a movie you’ve never seen, so Russell says he told Gunn he needs some time to become familiar with the material first:
“I didn’t realize that the man [James Gunn] had written and directed it. So we talked to each other on the phone and I just had to be honest and say, ‘Thank you for considering me, I have to read it, and I have to watch the movie because I can’t bring anything for you. I’ve got nothing to offer here.’ So, I’m amazed to get asked about this because everybody knows more about it than I do.”
This is some pretty amusing insight into the world of trade reporting. Sometimes, when you hear an actor is being “eyed” for a part, that actor may not even know they’re in consideration for said project. As is clear here, Russell has only just recently been made aware of the interest from Marvel, so it’ll be interesting to see if he accepts the part. Given the pedigree of the talent Marvel has been tapping lately, fromTilda SwintontoCate Blanchett, it doesn’t seem out of the question.
Production onGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2begins in February in anticipation of the film’s June 30, 2025 release date.
