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Credit: Marvel StudiosChris Pratt has spoken out about that scene in Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
Known for his role as Peter Quill/Star-Lord since 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Chris Pratt has appeared in many Marvel Cinematic Universe entries. From the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy to the Avengers movies and a supporting role in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Pratt became a beloved part of the sprawling superhero franchise.
Pratt’s Star-Lord was last seen in the final scene of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), where Marvel confirmed his return. At one time, it was speculated that Pratt would return in the Nova TV show. That project has not surfaced from the development slate amid Disney and Marvel’s entertainment overhaul.
Few moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe continue to divide fans quite like Peter Quill’s emotional outburst in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War. When Star-Lord lashed out at Thanos on Titan, disrupting the Avengers’ carefully planned ambush, the fallout extended far beyond the screen and directly onto Chris Pratt himself.
Despite appearing in only a limited capacity across Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, Pratt became a lightning rod for fan frustration. For years, audiences openly blamed Star-Lord for triggering the Snap, with many conflating the character’s decision with the actor behind it. Pratt has since admitted that the backlash surprised him, especially given the small role he played in the larger ensemble.
Fans regularly stopped Pratt in public to question his character’s actions, a reminder of just how deeply Marvel fandom can blur the line between fiction and reality. While Pratt has joked that without Quill’s mistake, the film would have ended far sooner, the criticism lingered well beyond the Infinity Saga.
“On the street, they’d come up to me like, ‘Why’d you do it, man?’ I’m like, ‘I didn’t do anything!’ Also, if Quill hadn’t done that, the two movies would’ve been thirty minutes long. ‘We got him.’ Roll credits,” Pratt told Out of Order while promoting his latest AI science-fiction thriller, Mercy (2026).
“That’s not a movie. Looking back, I feel the weight of what that moment did to the character. I’m still glad it happened, but I didn’t realise at the time it would become iconic,” he added.
Years later, Avengers: Infinity War continues to shape Chris Pratt’s Marvel legacy. Star-Lord’s controversial decision remains a debated moment in the MCU, one that, despite being frustrating for fans at the time, worked out well in the end–at least for some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Even though Marvel Studios confirmed Star-Lord would return, Pratt’s absence from early cast announcements for Avengers: Doomsday (2026) has sparked speculation. Whether Star-Lord is being saved for a surprise appearance in a later Avengers installment–such as Doomsday‘s sequel (or sequels), Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), or a standalone project–remains unclear.
As Marvel enters its next era, Star-Lord stands at an interesting crossroads.
How do you feel about Star-Lord’s journey in the MCU so far? Are you hoping to see the return of Chris Pratt soon? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!