Glen Powell, star of Twisters, points to Chris Pratt's performance in the Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy as a pivotal moment that redefined the template for a Hollywood leading man.

In a GQ profile, Powell stated that Pratt's Star-Lord, who debuted in James Gunn's immensely successful 2014 MCU film, "really helped" by presenting a hero who wasn't "brooding or dark."

"I remember when Chris Pratt broke out in Guardians of the Galaxy," Powell recalled. "There’s no doubt it had a real impact—he wasn't brooding or dark. I'm not a Christian Bale. Bale carries a certain gravitas and intensity, and [Robert] Pattinson had his own distinct vibe."

"When Pratt emerged on the scene with a more lighthearted and buoyant style, that's where I feel most comfortable. I believe I have a natural gear for that tone, a specific flavor that's needed in Hollywood—one that not many actors can authentically pull off."

Powell thus credits Pratt with paving the way for his own path to becoming a movie star. He contrasted Pratt's roles with those of Christian Bale, who portrayed Batman in Christopher Nolan's trilogy, and Robert Pattinson, famous for playing Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga—both archetypes Powell describes as brooding and dark.

Pratt's Star-Lord, however, represented a different kind of protagonist. As Powell noted, Pratt's character was "a little more silly and buoyant." This role was a massive success for Marvel Studios and catapulted Pratt's career to new heights.

Will he return as Star-Lord in Avengers: Doomsday? His name was notably missing from Marvel Studios' initial casting announcement for the film—an omission the actor later joked about. "I don't know! I think it was still far off," Pratt told Collider when asked about his potential involvement. "They must have cut it from the footage. I'm not sure what happened. It was there, I'm sure it was there."

As for Powell, he is set to star as the lead in Edgar Wright's The Running Man, scheduled for release on November 14.