Chris Pratt Originally Passed On Guardians Becau—Oh, Good God, Is This Him As Indiana Jones?

Please. pic.twitter.com/IgvEb4U2aU

— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) August 7, 2014

In case you missed the barrage of articles hyperventilating over Chris Pratt’s transformation from lovable schlub to shredded Cross Fit half-human half-machine, the man was once a little “wealthier” around the middle and is now healthier and loving it. But before he morphed into a human cheese-grater, Pratt felt his fitness (or lack thereof) held his career back—and almost prevented him from starring in Guardians of the Galaxy.

In an interview this month for Esquire, Pratt revealed that he originally passed on Guardians after being dismissed by a director during an audition years before:

When Guardians of the Galaxy was pitched to me, I said, ‘I don’t think so.’ I just didn’t picture myself getting the role. I didn’t want to go and embarrass myself like I did when I auditioned for G.I. Joe a couple of years previously. I went in there, and halfway through I saw the director’s eyes just glaze over. It made sense—I was a little heavy and out of shape. I was not gonna play someone from G.I. Joe. I did not look like a G.I. Joe action figure come to life.

Pratt also says training for his unprecedentedly physical role as Peter Quill has given him Gamora-levels of badassness:

I can do 40-inch box jumps now. Action-hero physical stuff. Jumping that high feels really good. You see a giant hillside, and you think, I wanna get up that. You see a building, you think, I could climb that. When you get in shape, the world around you becomes things you wanna jump on and climb on.

I think media interest in an actor’s diet or exercise regimen can only be healthy up to a certain extent, but Pratt’s new-found athleticism is relevant since it could lead to even more blockbuster roles for him. You know, maybe like the one represented in that heart-stopping photoshop above? Professor Pratt speaks for himself—let’s just pin that pic to our vision boards and hope for the best.

(via The Hollywood Reporter)

Previously in Pratt attack

• Chris Pratt surprised kids at a screening of Guardians of the Galaxy
• Then stole his Star-Lord costume to visit children in the hospital
• Also he is oddly skilled at french braiding

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