Chris Pratt Names the One Director He Still Hangs Out With After Filming Wraps

If you ever wondered whether working on a planet-hopping Marvel blockbuster for almost ten years turns your co-workers into actual friends—well, apparently it does. Just ask Chris Pratt and James Gunn, who started out as... not exactly instant pals on Guardians of the Galaxy, but ended up with the kind of friendship you actually keep after the wrap party.

These Two Weren't Always Space Bros

Believe it or not, James Gunn pretty much wrote off Chris Pratt before they met for Star-Lord auditions. (Wild, considering they’re now basically Marvel’s buddy comedy duo.) Gunn was on Dax Shepard’s podcast a while back and straight up admitted he thought Pratt was 'a joker' and wasn’t expecting much from his audition. Not exactly a glowing first impression.

But, here’s where it gets good. Gunn says it took less than twelve seconds—twelve!—for Pratt to completely change his mind. After that, Gunn apparently just turned around and said, 'He’s the one.' So if you've ever flunked a first impression, there's hope.

Pratt + Gunn: A Marvel Bromance

Since that first awkward beginning, Pratt and Gunn went on to make three movies together (the entire Guardians trilogy), and somewhere between fighting CGI raccoons and saving the universe, they became genuine friends. Pratt himself even singled out Gunn as the co-worker he actually kept in touch with when someone asked him about post-filming friendships in a Reddit AMA.

Quick Stats: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

• Director: James Gunn
• Major Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Bradley Cooper
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82% critics, 94% audience
• Box Office: $845 Million

The third and last big Guardians movie was a huge win for them (and for everyone who likes talking raccoons, laser fights, and 1970s mixtapes).

Could Pratt Show Up in Gunn's DC Universe?

Here’s the interesting bit for anyone following James Gunn’s career switch to running the DC movies: the dynamic that made Pratt and Gunn work in the MCU, could definitely follow them to DC. Gunn has this specialty for finding the sweet spot between goofy and devastatingly emotional—just look at what he did with Peacemaker. Pratt fits that style perfectly, swinging from lovable doofus to tortured hero sometimes in the same scene.

So, if Gunn ever wants to bring Pratt over to DC for, let's say, a new take on Booster Gold, or someone we’d never expect? It wouldn’t be surprising. He’s already proven he can nail that mix of silly and sincere that Gunn loves.

Got strong opinions on what DC character Chris Pratt should play? Go for it and drop your thoughts below. For now, you can watch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on Disney+ in the US. (And, honestly, you should. It’s a good time.)