As the MCU is about to embark on the next big change in its universe in 2026, Chris Pratt has finally shed light on what is perhaps the biggest and most invested of the many questions the fandom has always had regarding the circumstances of the death of Tony Stark and the involvement of Peter Quill in it. In an interview with Dexerto and Screen Time, as part of the promotion of the sci-fi thriller Mercy, which he is starring in, the Legendary Star-Lord gave the fans the first glimpse into what he has been doing ever since he went back to Earth at the end of the third installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
Peter Quill’s ‘guilt’ over Iron Man’s death
When asked about what life is like for Quill now that he’s started a life in the suburbs with his grandfather in Missouri, Pratt took it full throttle as the character. “[He’s] probably denying the fact that he was responsible for the death of Iron Man,” Pratt said about life for Quill. “While simultaneously trying to convince people that he was a superhero at some point.” This is a very on-character evaluation of Quill’s personality.
Pratt continued to wonder what sorts of arguments Quill would have been able to give diners or bar patrons regarding how his response on Titan, slapping Thanos because of Gamora’s death, was completely understandable. For those viewers who have been debating this one scene for what has felt like an eternity since the release of Avengers: Infinity War, this statement would appear to reference that this is one question that would never be fully resolved.
However, as much as Quill leads a low-key life in the present, it was important for Pratt to note that Star-Lord’s adventures remain far from over. This was in relation to a promise made in the final shot of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, as a title card read: “The Legendary Star-Lord will return.” “I’d really like to make good on that promise,” said Pratt. Already, industry speculation has begun to fill in some of these gaps.
It is rumored that Quill may appear in VisionQuest, possibly aligning himself with White Vision, as they both readjust to life on Earth. And, of course, there are rumors regarding Avengers: Doomsday, where it is suggested that Quill may return as a battle-hardened veteran among a new crop of heroes, even if he is not part of the current lineup, as he was not initially rumored to be. For now, Peter Quill is, and always has been, exactly who he was: an imperfect, emotionally motivated hero trying to laugh his way out from under cosmic guilt.
If his recent comments are anything to be taken as indicative, it seems that, come his return to the MCU, Star-Lord will be hot on nothing but good music, bad excuses, and that same reckless charm that made him such a fan favorite in the first place.
