Chris Pratt has had a protracted and profitable profession in Hollywood, from his breakout position as Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation (out there to stream with a Peacock subscription) to his flip as Star-Lord within the Marvel Cinematic Universe motion pictures. However earlier than he turned a family identify, he needed to hustle for roles similar to another actor—together with one significantly nerve-wracking audition for one of many finest baseball motion pictures. The Terminal Checklist actor not too long ago revealed a behind-the-scenes Moneyball second you won’t have identified, and it concerned kicking Brad Pitt out of the room.
In a clip posted by BBC iPlayer’s official Instagram from Pratt’s current look on The Graham Norton Present, he shared the wild story of how he landed the position of baseball participant Scott Hatteberg within the Oscar-nominated movie. The Jurassic World actor recalled feeling intimidated when he walked into the audition room with Pitt and director Bennett Miller. However when Miller known as him out for seeming nervous, The Lego Film voice star determined to decide to the position absolutely, saying:
I am on this audition room with Brad Pitt and Bennett Miller, and I’m nervous as you’ll be able to presumably think about–He [Miller] simply form of leans again and goes, ‘Yeah, it sort of feels such as you’re auditioning for this position. You understand, that is speculated to be your own home, and it feels such as you’re only a man who’s nervous to be sitting subsequent to Brad Pitt.’
As an alternative of crumbling beneath the strain, Pratt channeled his character’s power and took management. He continued:
I used to be like: ‘Okay.’ And I mentioned: ‘Effectively, then how about this? That is my home, and you can begin by taking your fucking toes off my desk!’ I kicked him out, and I mentioned: ‘You, Brad, get out! You guys go knock on the door and are available again in, then we’ll do the audition!’ And it labored!
Speak about an influence transfer! It seems that second of spontaneity impressed the Moneyball staff and helped Chris Pratt snag the position—particularly since he was already dealing with casting challenges due to his weight on the time. It is fairly wild to assume this was again when he was nonetheless principally generally known as the lovable goofball from Parks and Recreation.
The gamble paid off, as Moneyball went on to earn crucial acclaim and 6 Academy Award nominations, together with Finest Image. Whereas Pitt’s portrayal of Oakland A’s common supervisor Billy Beane is taken into account one in all his finest performances, the Garfield voice star’s efficiency as Hatteberg—a struggling former catcher turned first baseman—was additionally extensively praised.
Pratt’s rise in Hollywood has been nothing in need of meteoric since then, main him to main blockbuster franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World trilogy. Extra not too long ago, he’s taken on heavy roles in motion motion pictures, together with the sci-fi 2025 film launch The Electrical State (out there with a Netflix subscription), although that one has obtained a little bit of a combined response from critics.
Chris Pratt’s audition story for Moneyball highlights what makes him such an amazing actor—he is aware of the right way to adapt and throw himself into a job with whole confidence. And actually, kicking Brad Pitt out of the room throughout an audition? That is such a Star-Lord transfer.