For years, Robert Downey Jr. has been regarded as the undisputed king of quick-witted humor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His Tony Stark became a hallmark of the franchise.
However, with the arrival of Chris Pratt‘s Star-Lord, even Downey was impressed by the newcomer’s natural comedic ability.
Robert Downey Jr. Says Chris Pratt Became Marvel’s New Comedy MVP
While reflecting on the making of ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘, Downey revealed that Pratt brought a completely different energy to the MCU, one that immediately caught his attention. When Pratt and his team were introduced into the Avengers’ story, the comedic tone changed. Downey explained that the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and the Avengers were a strange mix.
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He praised the Guardians for bringing some fun to the MCU and keeping their own identity. “We now have the Guardians that have brought the humor to another level. And some of it feels like Stark 3.0, but very much their own,” he told CBR. Downey said he soon discovered that Pratt was a special talent.
The Iron Man star recalled that viewers had already embraced the actor before he even joined Marvel, when he was watching him work. Pratt’s comedic sensibilities added a new element to the franchise at a time when it was continuing to grow.
The veteran actor even joked that he loved to watch Pratt’s outtakes from ‘Parks and Recreation‘, which he said were “endlessly entertaining. “If I want to entertain myself for an afternoon, I’ll just watch Chris Pratt outtakes from Parks and Rec. He was already primed to be able to go to the next level.”
Chris Pratt’s Talent Drove Robert Downey Jr. Crazy
Downey also admitted he had a competitive reaction to seeing Pratt excel at the beginning. He felt as though the new guy was taking over what Tony Stark had always had. But Downey recognized Pratt’s talents and saw them as a positive rather than a negative.
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He said it is a blessing to have talented performers around you, not a threat. “The great thing is, when you have players around you that are better than you in areas, you go, ‘Okay, that’s not a threat. That’s a gift.’” That chemistry was evident in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’.
Whether it was the iconic “Why is Gamora?” or the hilarious Iron Man and Star-Lord debate about Titan, the duo created some of the funniest moments in the film. Downey’s love for Pratt is a testament to why ‘Infinity War’ was successful.
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