Add Joseph Gordon-Levitt to the list of prolific young actors supposedly in the running for Guardians of the Galaxy.
The role in mind is that of lead (obviously) Peter Quill, aka Star Lord. Quill’s origins are pretty out there, even by comics’ standards.
Born during a rare planetary alignment, Quill’s mother is eventually killed by an alien. Growing up orphan, the tenacious young lad rises to the ranks of NASA astronaut only to have his space station visited by an alien who doesn’t grant him the powers of Star Lord, they instead are bestowed upon another astronaut. So Quill steals said powers from the guy who was nominated as Star Lord. He’s a galatic policeman ala Green Lantern but with laser pistols instead of an imagination ring. Comics.
There are few actors as in-demand as Gordon-Levitt right now. Especially after The Dark Knight Rises, I’m not sure the performer needs a Marvel film at this point. Especially if, according to rumor, WB is actually considering keeping JGL on as the next Batman. If that’s true and JGL’s Batdeal isn’t done, this could be a shrewd move by his representation to play both sides and fatten some pockets. Even without the Batman speculation, this still seems unlikely. I’m not against JGL in a Marvel film. But the other actors rumored to be in the running (Joel Edgerton, James Marsden, Garrett Hedlund) fit Marvel’s profile of hiring talents on the cusp. For whatever reason I just don’t see it.
Then again, Gordon-Levitt and Guardians director James Gunn seem like a great pairing that needs to happen at some point.
Source: Deadline