Chris Pratt has confirmed that his character Star-Lord, also known as Peter Quill, will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Speaking on a podcast, the actor said Marvel has already taken “hard action” to make the comeback happen. However, he did not reveal when the character will return. Variety, IGN and TheWrap have reported his comments.
Chris Pratt made the remarks on The Playlist’s Bingeworthy podcast while promoting the second season of The Terminal List, which is scheduled to premiere on Amazon Prime on October 21.
“I have a great relationship with Kevin [Feige] and Lou [D’Esposito], and there have been both ongoing conversations about how we make good on that promise and also hard action taken to make sure that we make good on that promise,” Pratt said.
He continued, “So 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 did not explain what the “hard action” involved. Marvel Studios has not publicly commented on his remarks.
The actor’s statement refers to the ending of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which included a promise of Star-Lord’s return in its closing credits. The message read, “The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return.” The phrase also references a short-lived comic book series titled The Legendary Star-Lord, launched in 2015 and written by Sam Humphries with art by Paco Medina. The series followed Quill after he left the Guardians.
Star-Lord has not appeared in the MCU since 2023. Pratt has played the character in six films: Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
The third Guardians of the Galaxy film ended with the original team members heading in different directions. Peter returned to Earth to find his grandfather, while Mantis left to pursue independence. Gamora reunited with her new Ravager family, and Nebula and Drax became co-presidents of Knowhere. Rocket took over as leader of the Guardians alongside new members.
Pratt had previously revealed that he pitched Marvel an idea for bringing Star-Lord back. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actor said, “I’m happy to do anything they want me to do and will.”
He added that he had a strong vision for what he wanted the character to do. Asked whether he had presented the idea to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, Pratt confirmed that he had. He also said he was “down to contribute any way I can” to Marvel’s plans for “the next 10 years of storytelling.”
The timing and format of Star-Lord’s return remain unclear. Avengers: Doomsday, the next MCU film, is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on December 18. Pratt has not been announced as a cast member, and no appearance by Star-Lord has been confirmed.
The character could potentially return in the subsequent film, Avengers: Secret Wars, but that possibility remains unconfirmed. Whether Star-Lord will appear in either film is not known.
Director James Gunn, who now heads DC Studios, has said he has no plans to make another Guardians of the Galaxy film. Other possibilities for Star-Lord’s return include a television series, a solo film or a new Guardians of the Galaxy movie under a different director. None of these options has been announced by Marvel.
Neither Pratt nor Marvel has confirmed which project will bring the character back. The actor’s comments establish that discussions have taken place and that Marvel has taken steps towards fulfilling the promise made at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The timing of the return, the project in which it will happen and the nature of the “hard action” Pratt referenced remain unknown.
