Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will soon be crash-landing into theaters, bringing fan-favorite characters like Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Drax, and Nebula back to the big screen once again. However, there’s one crucial character in the new film who’s proven to be a rather divisive figure: the Guardians’ leader Peter Quill, better known as the legendary outlaw Star-Lord.
Played by Chris Pratt of Parks and Recreation and The Lego Movie fame, Star-Lord was initially well-received by audiences in the first two Guardians movies. But since then, he’s become somewhat controversial among Marvel fans, with his fair share of defenders and detractors alike. So with GOTG Vol. 3 close on the horizon, it’s becoming increasingly likely that the new film will be the deciding factor on whether Star-Lord is remembered by fans as a true hero or a tragic misstep from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Star-Lord’s Not-So-Humble Beginnings
When Peter Quill was first introduced in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, written and directed by James Gunn, he’s far from what one would expect from a space-faring superhero. Sure, he styles himself as a dashing, roguish space pirate in the vein of Han Solo and other such lovable scoundrels. But alas, his attempts to pass himself off as a charismatic adventurer do little to hide his immature, buffoonish personality. While Quill isn’t completely incompetent, he’s still plagued by a desperation to appear much cooler than he actually is. Nowhere is this exemplified better than in his vain attempts to get people to address him by his melodramatic moniker of “Star-Lord”.
But of course, by the end of the film, Quill manages to rally together his fellow losers and outcasts, turning them into the Guardians of the Galaxy. And in doing so, he shows that underneath his cocky, insecure exterior, he’s capable of expressing a surprising level of emotional intelligence. However, Star-Lord’s newfound maturity doesn’t last long. By the time of the sequel, he’s acting more brash and self-centered than ever, and his ego only grows thanks to Ego — his manipulative Celestial father. But thanks to his fellow Guardians, and the selfless sacrifice of Yondu, Quill recognizes that his family is more important than personal glory.
If that were the end of the story, Star-Lord likely wouldn’t have become nearly as divisive. However, things get much trickier with the events of Avengers: Infinity War. When Quill finds out that Gamora has died at the hand of Thanos, he attacks the Mad Titan in an impulsive rage, which leads to Thanos regaining the upper hand in battle. While some fans saw Quill’s rash actions as the natural result of his character flaws, others considered his portrayal in Infinity War to be a step back from the growth he exhibited in the end of GOTG Vol. 2. Many viewers even went as far as to blame Quill for Thanos’ eventual victory in the film.
While Quill’s actions in Infinity War are the most obvious factor for the character's loss in popularity, it’s also likely that he’s a victim of the backlash against his actor, Chris Pratt. While Pratt was generally well-liked in his Parks and Rec days, the runaway success of Guardians caused him to go from charming goofball roles to being typecast as a macho action hero — the exact sort of character that Quill arguably lampoons. Over the past decade, Pratt has starred in everything from Jurassic World to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, causing many moviegoers to get sick of just how overexposed he’s become. But whether it’s his actor or his writing that’s to blame, it’s undeniable that after Infinity War, Star-Lord’s immature antics began to wear out their welcome in the eyes of many fans.
How Peter Quill Grew Up
Another major piece to this puzzle lies in the source material of the Guardians films. While the Star-Lord of the comics is every bit the cavalier, wisecracking gunslinger as his live action counterpart, he’s also a cunning strategist and capable leader who knows when to get serious. And while he may be a flawed, guilt-ridden, sometimes morally ambiguous figure, he’s never been portrayed as an insecure man-child like his movie counterpart. As such, many comic fans have expressed disappointment in the MCU’s depiction of Star-Lord.
However, if Phase 4 of the MCU is any indication, Quill may already be well on his way to becoming more like his comic self. In his brief appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder, Quill offers some sage advice to Thor, showing an earnest willingness to support the hero he once saw as a rival. And in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Star-Lord acts as a voice of reason among the Guardians, desperately trying to rein in the eccentricities of his teammates. After years of his arrogance getting him into tight spots, Quill now finds himself as the one trying his best to keep everyone else out of trouble.
What’s Next For Star-Lord?
If Star-Lord’s portrayal in Phase 4 is any indication, then Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will likely see Peter Quill finally grow into the self-assured, reliable leader he was always meant to be. His costume even reflects his character development — Quill’s finally swapped his leather jacket out for a professional-looking blue and red uniform that’s a dead ringer for his classic comic book look. At long last, Star-Lord the legendary outlaw has grown up.
At least, that’s the direction that things seem to be going in. With GOTG Vol. 3 not actually out yet, it’s still possible that Quill’s worse tendencies could show up again in the new film. He could very well go back to making poorly-timed jokes, or prove incapable of getting over Gamora. But by that same token, if Quill ends up letting Gamora go instead of pining for his lost love, it could serve as the ultimate sign of his growth. Of course, only time will tell. But if Gunn and company play their cards right, then Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 could not only address past complaints about Star-Lord, but also turn his character arc into something truly special.