Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Chris Pratt reflects on the franchise’s success when the press predicted the first would flop

Back when the first Guardians of the Galaxy was announced, the concept art was revealed, and set photos had been released, not too many people were at all sold on it and thought Marvel Studios had overreached their grasp. In the wake of the success that was Phase 1, it didn’t feel like it was going to be a hit. At least not a success like The Avengers or any of the preceding films were. I was one of the many who had doubts, and I admit I was wrong, being pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed both entries.

It was easy to count out the first film when you see that two characters involved a large sentient tree and a warring raccoon. And nobody truly knew what James Gunn was capable of. Two films and six total appearances (Vol. 1 & 2, Infinity War, Endgame, Love & Thunder, Holiday Special) later, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now one of the most-anticipated entries in Marvel’s run. According to Variety, Chris Pratt would give a speech commemorating the last day of filming by addressing the former Guardians haters.

“I’m not a vindictive person…but I happened to have in my notes file several press clippings saved from the first movie when everyone predicted that Guardians of the Galaxy was going to be Marvel’s first flop. That was the consensus critically. Everyone was saying all of these negative things. At the time, we were insecure and nervous about the prospects….they’re saying it’s a title no one has never heard of, we don’t have any A-list stars, [it will be] Marvel’s first failure. I remember all of that,” started Pratt.

Pratt continued, “Of course none of that came true. We had this great run. At the end, I wanted to read some of those clippings to the cast and crew and to James and to…I guess kind of rub it in a little bit. Just to say we overcame a lot to get to where we are and we weren’t supposed to be where we are but we did something special. Just to bask in the moment of what these last 10 years have been.”

Pratt would get plucked from the sitcom world as the lovable overweight simpleton, Andy Dwyer, on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, to become a fit, blockbuster, action star when the first Guardians was released. The film went on to become one of the studio’s best-reviewed films and made $772 million globally.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will hit theaters on May 5.