Guardians of the GalaxyJoel Edgerton failed his
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT He says the world is a 'much better place' because he's not Star-Lord.

Power off the Walkman real quick for the latest Guardians of the Galaxy development: Joel Edgerton has shared new details about his failed audition for the role of Star-Lord.

Edgerton surmised that he didn't get the part — which went to Chris Pratt — because he couldn't nail the vibe of the 2014 movie from the script.

"Star-Lord’s a good one, actually, because I, unlike Chris, didn’t quite sort of understand the tone of it the way he did and the way that those guys did,” he said. “And I wasn’t really sure how I could be a part of that tone."

Edgerton added, "And I truly think that the world is a much better place [because] I’m not Star-Lord, even if I had the opportunity or I did a good enough audition, because it is the way it’s meant to be. There was never a real conversation that it would have definitely been me. It was just I had the opportunity to try and audition. I just didn’t quite understand it.”

John Lamparski/WireImage; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy Everett

Edgerton has yet to make his debut in the superhero space, though he's no stranger to the action and sci-fi genres. (See: Star Wars and the series Obi-Wan Kenobi.)

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.

From director James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy followed a ragtag group of space criminals who come together to save the universe from a villain and his all-powerful orb. Pratt led the ensemble cast, which was also made up of Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Lee Pace. Two more films followed: 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and 2023's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Other actors who've tested for Star-Lord include Jack Huston, Eddie Redmayne, Glenn Howerton, and Adam Brody.

Brody spoke about his audition to Variety last year. "I wanted that one,” he said, admitting that Pratt was a better fit. “He is bigger, stronger — but tonally, I really dug it.”

Related articles
Alien: RomulusHow
Movies
Alien: RomulusHow
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT
Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry's 'The Union' delivers a capable action-comedy without requiring overtime
Movies
Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry's 'The Union' delivers a capable action-comedy without requiring overtime
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT
Woman Under the InfluenceGena Rowlands,
Movies
Woman Under the InfluenceGena Rowlands,
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT
Alien: Romulus launches Cailee Spaeny into winning gross-out orbit
Movies
Alien: Romulus launches Cailee Spaeny into winning gross-out orbit
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT
Kraven the HunterAaron Taylor-Johnson’s antihero faces off against the Rhino in bloody new
Movies
Kraven the HunterAaron Taylor-Johnson’s antihero faces off against the Rhino in bloody new
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT
Avatar: Fire and AshJames Cameron explains
Movies
Avatar: Fire and AshJames Cameron explains
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT
Avatar 4Michelle Yeoh won't appear until
Movies
Avatar 4Michelle Yeoh won't appear until
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT
The MonkeyStephen King's
Movies
The MonkeyStephen King's
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT
Jimmy Kimmel explains why he 'didn't want to deal with' hosting the 2025 Oscars: 'I figured I’d take a break'
Movies
Jimmy Kimmel explains why he 'didn't want to deal with' hosting the 2025 Oscars: 'I figured I’d take a break'
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT