Even though he’s been promoting Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn hasn’t been able to escape the topic of his incoming DCU reboot. Seeing as he’s been paired up with Marvel leading man Chris Pratt throughout the threequel’s press tour, naturally the subject has often turned to how the Star-Lord star could potentially factor into Gunn’s DC universe. That’s given us the revelation that Krypto the Super-Dog will appear in Superman: Legacy, but we’re still none the wiser on Pratt’s possible DC role.
It’s worth remembering, however, that the Jurassic World veteran doesn’t actually need his old pal Gunn to make his DC debut happen. It might be one of the least-remembered roles of Pratt’s entire career, but he’s actually already appeared in a project from Marvel’s Distinguished Competition as part of The Batman universe. Although not The Batman universe that you’re expecting.
Long before Peter Quill and Hollywood superstardom was on the table, before he’d even boarded Parks & Recreation, Chris Pratt — then best known for The WB’s teen drama Everwood — made a guest spot on The Batman animated series as a one-off villain foe for the Dark Knight. The actor voiced the character of Jake, a Gotham University Student who is turned into an anthropomorphic creature dubbed Gorilla Boy after becoming infected with an altered version of the Man-Bat serum.
It’s hardly a starring role in a DC blockbuster, then, but Pratt joins his Guardians co-star, and Smallville veteran, Dave Bautista in already having the honor of being part of the DC multiverse, without having to rely on Gunn finding a place for him in Chapter One: Gods & Monsters. In fact, his The Batman guest spot would make it all the more hilarious if Gunn goes ahead and baits the fans by actually casting Pratt as the world’s latest Bruce Wayne, just as he’s threatened.
Published: May 8, 2023 08:34 am