Chris Pratt as Indiana Jones? 6 Reasons He Could Be the Best or Worst Choice
Chris Pratt has been
taking Hollywood by storm - from
Guardians of the Galaxy to
Jurassic World - and now he may be joining another franchise.
The beloved Parks and Recreation star could be stepping into the leather boots and iconic fedora of Indiana Jones!
Disney
bought the rights to the franchise from Paramount in 2013, and has been
looking for the perfect actor to take up the mantel of the legendary
action archeologist from Harrison Ford.
According to Deadline, Disney has their sights set on Pratt.
While this sounds like the best possible fit – and
in all likelihood it would make for an amazing movie – there could be
some downsides to casting
the 35-year-old heartthrob. Here are six reasons Chris Pratt might be the best or the worst choice to take over the adored franchise.
WHY HE'S THE BEST CHOICE:
1. He's Already Proven He Can Play the Part
The entire opening of
Guardians of the Galaxy
features Pratt essentially playing Indiana Jones in space. He's got the
swagger, the attitude and the ancient temple-fortress setting. Trade
out his rocket boots for a whip and the distant planet for Aztec ruins
and you're already there.
2. He's Got Indiana Jones' Trademark Blend of Humor and Seriousness
Guardians of the Galaxy
really went a long way toward showing Pratt's range. Despite being
considered by many as a fun, mindless action film, Pratt's die-hard
determination and shattered emotional core hit you in the feels several
times. Sure he showed his fun, goofy side too, but a lot of that was
just to mask his pain and anger, which Pratt blended perfectly. Indiana
Jones has that same mix of cocky self-assurance, powerful insecurity,
and a steadfast sense of duty and determination to save the world.
3. Now Is the Perfect Time
Pratt is done shooting
Parks and Rec,
so he wouldn't have to worry about the challenges of shooting a TV show
and a movie at the same time, and he's already in shape from shooting
Jurassic World and getting ready for the upcoming
Guardians sequel.
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WHY HE'S THE WORST CHOICE:
1. Overexposure
We
know this sounds impossible, but could we get sick of seeing him in
everything? It seems crazy, but just look at any song that people love
when it first comes out, and then hate it a month later because it just
won't stop getting played on the radio. With Pratt dipping his hand
in every major movie franchise, how long could it be before we just want him to go away for a while?
2. We Might Not Buy Him Playing a Teacher
After years of watching and loving him as the loveably stupid Andy Dwyer on
Parks and Recreation,
will we be able to buy him as an archeology professor and intellectual
historian? Sure Pratt can play a fast-taking rouge, but Jones was a
student of biblical study and an expert on theology, sociological
archeology and ancient mythology, and it just doesn't feel like Andy
Dwyer or Star-Lord could pull that off.
It's already hard to buy Pratt as a man who knows things about dinosaurs in the
Jurassic World trailer, and he's not even playing a scientist or a teacher.
3. What If He's Too Good?
So
you don't think you'll get sick of him, and you think you'll buy him as
an intellectual? Fine. But what if he's so damn good it makes the
original series look bad in comparison?
Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the greatest action-adventure movies ever made and
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is almost as good (we'll just ignore
Temple of Doom and
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for now). But if Pratt is even half as amazing as we all imagine he'd be it might ruin our ability to enjoy those classics!
VIDEO: Chris Pratt Interrupts Interview To French Braid Intern's Hair
Of course, all of this might be much ado about nothing.
Deadline
admits that the process of casting is in the very early stages, and
that Disney has declined to comment. In the end, it might not even go to
Pratt at all. For the time being, we can only speculate and have hope.