After the box office and critical failure of 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, analysts were surprised that Disney bothered to buy the rights to the Indiana Jones franchise from Paramount in 2013. The studio might soon reveal their plans with the iconic archaeologist, as Deadline reported on Tuesday that Disney is eyeing Chris Pratt as the series’ new star.
Chris Pratt proved that he’s leading man material in last summer’s critically-acclaimed blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, in which he starred as a ruggedly handsome and adventurous rebel who has been described as a mixture Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones and Han Solo. Pratt also seems very much like Indy riding a motorcycle flanked by trained velociraptors in the trailers for Jurassic World, another reboot of a beloved franchise which a studio trusted him to lead.
Critics have praised Pratt for bringing an easy and authentic charm to each of his roles, and this isn’t the first time he’s drawn comparisons to early ’80s Harrison Ford. Since the reboot probably won’t include Spielberg, Lucas, or any of the individuals behind past Indy films, Pratt’s ability to bring both masculinity and relatability to the iconic role might be exactly what Disney needs. However, when Deadline announced the casting rumor on Tuesday, fans of the series voiced their concerns over whether or not has the maturity to play a classically romantic and professional hero like Indiana Jones, who needs to be believable as a college professor and archaeologist.
Despite seeming like an overall solid fit for the Indiana Jones role, Disney may have trouble even finding time for Pratt to star in another franchise, since the 35-year-old actor will star in the Guardians sequel and reprise his leading voice role in the LEGO Movie sequel over the next two years.
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