Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is no ordinary sequel, with the myriad of reports about the film’s story and character development suggesting that major changes are on the way for some of the titular heroes. Not only are the group dynamics of the team going to be different, but Vol. 2 is expected to explore Peter Quill/Star-Lord’s (Chris Pratt) backstory much more - especially as it sees the introduction of his father, Ego the living planet (Kurt Russell).

Star-Lord is also likely to evolve from the triumphant ending of the original Guardians of the Galaxy, where he grabbed the Power Stone and not only didn't die instantly but appeared to draw even more power from it. The hero’s new sense of individual power could have permanently altered the character in a major way; new comments from Pratt himself indicate that, as a result of that climactic scene, you’ll see a different Star-Lord in Vol. 2.

Comic Book recently visited the set of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and spoke to the cast about what to expect in the sequel. Here’s what Pratt had to say about the Power Stone scene and the effect it has had on his character:

"It plays a certain role. His interaction with the Infinity Stone in the first movie becomes - there’s a thread there that gets pulled in the second movie, like you get to know a little bit more. But yeah, that wasn’t an unimportant aspect of who he is."

Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy

Star-Lord's quest to find Ego and learn more about his lineage is expected to be a significant part of his development in Vol. 2, a journey of discovery facilitated by the first film's ending; the Power Stone scene in the original Guardians of the Galaxy was ostensibly the moment where Quill realized that he and his father are more powerful than he had ever imagined.

Power has the ability to both liberate the weak and corrupt the strong, and in Quill’s case he certainly has considerable powers bubbling underneath the surface. Pratt's comments about the Power Stone and how it affected him suggest that he may struggle with his newfound sense of power and that it could be the catalyst for the altering of his dynamic with the rest of the Guardians. It’s unfathomable that a hero as likable as Star-Lord would suddenly become abrasive, but there’s a chance that it will add some compelling drama to the story of Vol. 2.

Guardians of the Galaxy spent much of its runtime establishing the heroes and assembling the team through a number of narrative threads weaved together. This time, the team hits the ground running fully intact, joined by some new members, and Star-Lord has a whole new journey to take in the quest to learn more about his father. It’s a wonder how James Gunn will pack the large number of familial themes and possible power struggles into a single story, but based on recent test screening buzz there’s little reason to doubt that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will be a worthy follow-up to the original - and thematically it could be even stronger.

Source: Comic Book

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