Would a Young Paul Newman Have Been a Good Choice to Play Peter Quill (Star Lord)?
No, he would be too conventionally good-looking. The humor that sets the tone for Guardians of the Galaxy revolves around Peter Quill being taken aback when no one has heard of his name, 'Star Lord.' This requires a blend of ego inflation and initial self-doubt which a matinee idol like Paul Newman might find challenging to convey convincingly. If Star Lord was named by someone else as 'Star Lord' and no one knew who he was, we wouldn't believe it, not because of Newman's acting skills, but because he's just too much of a 'movie star' to make that credible.
Chris Pratt: A Phenomenon in Action
Chris Pratt, on the other hand, does not fit the conventional movie star mold. He's a phenomenon. While he's attractive enough to be considered a sex symbol, he convincingly portrays an action hero with an everyday, relatable vibe. This makes his heroics especially thrilling because he seems so initially unprepossessing. One way to envision Pratt is as an extension of the hero type invented by Bruce Willis. As we delve into the history of movie heroes, they tend to be suave and charming, but as we progress, their personas become more down-to-earth and relatable.
Original Guardians: A Speculative Casting
If we were to revisit the original Guardians cast, perhaps Guardians of the Galaxy could have been more than just a space adventure. Young Charlton Heston as Vance Astro, Yul Brynner as Starhawk, Ernest Borgnine as Charlie 27, Raquel Welch as Nikki, Leonard Nimoy as Martinex, and Jerry Mathers as the 30th-century Beaver—yes, The Beaver making a 30th-century appearance.
However, the inclusion of the current crew or even these retrofitted versions might not have worked. The charm and humor of the original cast are unique and blend well with the space opera and the fantasy elements of the film. Casting these B-movie icons in modern times might strip away the charm and humor that made the original Guardians so memorable.
Conclusion
While it's interesting to speculate about who could have played Peter Quill differently, Chris Pratt's unique blend of good looks and relatability makes him the perfect choice for the role. He brings a down-to-earth, everyday hero vibe that resonates with audiences. As for the original Guardians cast, their charm and charisma are integral to the film's DNA, and changing them might dilute the magical mix of humor, action, and sci-fi adventure that made Guardians of the Galaxy such a charming and memorable film.