Before rising to fame as one of Hollywood’s leading action stars, Chris Pratt spent several years portraying characters that audiences loved to dislike. In a revealing interview on April 5, the 46-year-old actor opened up about the early stages of his career, explaining that he was often cast in the role of what he straightforwardly called the “jerk boyfriend.”
Reflecting on his part in the 2009 romantic comedy Bride Wars, which starred Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson, Pratt acknowledged that playing Fletcher—a controlling and far-from-ideal romantic partner—was part of a recurring pattern. “This is the kind of role I was offered repeatedly,” he said. “The guy you don’t want to see end up with the girl.” He added, “I’ve been offered that a lot. I dined out on ‘d–khead boyfriend’ for a long time.”
His typecasting extended beyond Bride Wars, with similar roles in films such as Wanted (2008), 10 Years (2010), and What’s Your Number? (2011), where he frequently portrayed arrogant or unlikeable characters. Even during his early television work on Everwood, his character exhibited traits typical of a jerk.
Meanwhile, Pratt’s career took a pivotal turn with the comedy series Parks and Recreation. Initially introduced as Andy Dwyer, a lazy, unemployed boyfriend to Rashida Jones’ character Ann Perkins, Pratt’s role was originally intended to be brief. However, his natural charm and comedic skill quickly won over both viewers and the show’s writers, transforming the character into a fan favorite and marking a significant shift in Pratt’s career trajectory.
In a significant development, as Parks and Recreation approached its conclusion, Pratt secured the role of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). This was followed by the blockbuster success of Jurassic World (2015), projects that propelled him to international stardom and reshaped his on-screen persona.
