However, it wasn’t until he landed the role of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy that he got to shine as the leading man. Pratt went on to star in a handful of other blockbuster films and franchises such as Jurassic World, but Hollywood generally kept him pigeonholed. In The Terminal List, Chris Pratt takes on a world without dinosaurs and superheroes with a character who has no jokes or humor to rely on, proving to audiences that he is more than just a wacky, charming, buff addition to massive films.

Chris Pratt Goes from Ensemble to Lead

     NBCUniversal Television Distribution

During his television career, Pratt took on supporting roles in teen shows like Everwood and the popular The O.C. His role as Andy Dwyer on Parks and Rec was actually meant to be a guest role, but turned him into a series regular after the fans, cast, and crew fell in love with the actor’s comedy chop. But no one ever thought in a million years that his big screen break would be starring as Star-Lord in the MCU.

Guardians of the Galaxy would be his first leading role, and in a Marvel film no less. The world watched him transform his dad bod into a ripped physique. The same Chris who was the frontman of the fake band Mouse Rat in a popular sitcom was now the lead in a tent-pole movie. He showed the world that he could carry a film, and The Terminal List is his chance to carry a series.

The Terminal List: A Break From Film Franchises

     Universal Pictures

With the success of Guardians of the Galaxy, Pratt achieved international fame and became a bona fide action star. This opened the door to his first but certainly not his last franchise. He went on to jumpstart the Jurassic Park movies, which recently released the last film in the trilogy. In becoming an action star, Pratt had to reinvent himself, which brought him a very lucrative film career.

However, there are only so many times he can play the same role before it becomes stale. Sure, franchises offer job security, but they also kept him in a box, limiting his ability to explore other characters. The Terminal List gives him the chance to play someone new and nurture his growth as an actor. Making the move back to television (especially with the freedom of streaming) in a serious role shows he’s ready for audiences to see what he’s capable of beyond his action hero persona.

Although Jack Carr, the author of the book the show is based on, and Pratt’s Navy SEAL friend Jared Shaw pitched it as a film, Pratt thought otherwise. He admitted on Instagram, “Originally, Jack and Jared thought that this would be a really great film, but I think it’s better suited for television. I love what people are doing on TV now. I love that you can spend 10 hours telling a story rather than an hour and a half.” He’s even said of The Terminal List: “It’s a reinvention for myself.”

Many other actors turn their noses up at television, but Chris fully embraces the medium that put him in the spotlight, and he’s eager to return to it. However, the actor hasn’t said goodbye to film franchises just yet. Having recently announced his plans to voice Garfield and Mario in the upcoming Super Mario Bros. film, projects that have had sequels in the past, new franchises could very well be on the horizon for him.

Chris Pratt: From Comedy to Action to Thriller

When Pratt played Andy, his comedic talents made it obvious why he became a big part of the series. Even after he landed Guardians of the Galaxy, the biggest role of his life, he worked with Parks and Rec producers to ensure he could still be on the sitcom. Chris also brought the funny in The Lego Movie, playing the sweet and naive Emmet. However, his latest role as Navy SEAL James Reece is a far cry from his previous characters.

For years Chris brought laughter into people’s homes before becoming an international action star, and now he is getting the opportunity to conquer another genre. Working on franchises helped prep him for this project. The Terminal List is a fantastic career move because it will give him credibility as a serious actor and break the kind of lovable, charming, humorous character he is perfect at but typecast as. Plus, not only will the series attract his fanbase, but it will also give him the opportunity to gain new fans.