You may have noticed that two actors, Chris Pratt and John Krasinski, known for their break-out roles in two of the best mockumentary-style TV shows, have recently entered the action genre, with an emphasis on military thrillers. Perhaps knowing that they would always be remembered for their humorous characters on The Office and Parks and Recreation, Pratt and Krasinski have worked hard to also fit into the roles of intelligent, athletic, somewhat conservative heroes. Krasinski landed his first hero role in Michael Bay’s 13 Hours, while Pratt found his both with the reboot of Jurassic Park and Guardians of the Galaxy. They both play action stars in military thrillers on Prime Video, Pratt with The Terminal List and Krasinski with Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.
Having both started their careers in similar places in mockumentary series, the two actors have landed on similar stepping stones over the years. Some may even joke that they are the “same person” for their career choices and rise to fame. According to The Daily Beast, the emergence of Pratt and Krasinski as action heroes represents a doing away with the “old school model of cartoonish biceps and macho attitude.”
The two actors instead present a “more relatable, funny, self-conscious, and sustainable” hero. Pratt and Krasinski’s growth into some of Hollywood’s most well-known stars make us question what other unexpected actors could become the next great action movie hero. Here’s how Chris Pratt and John Krasinski followed the same career paths to become almost the same type of actor.
Jim Halpert and Andy Dwyer
NBC
When we say that Chris Pratt and John Krasinski started out in similar places, we weren’t kidding. Krasinski landed his role as Jim Halpert in The Office for his almost unbelievable chemistry with the actress Jenna Fischer who portrays Pam Beasley. Jim Halpert is a handsome but bored paper salesman who passes his time by playing various pranks in the workplace and reacts whenever Michael Scott, his boss, does something awkward.
On the other hand, Chris Pratt plays Andy Dwyer, the bumbling and dim-witted ex-boyfriend of Ann Perkins on Parks and Recreation. Similar to John Krasinski, who was considering quitting acting three weeks before his role on The Office, Pratt wasn’t a known actor, and his character wasn’t supposed to extend further than the first season. However, the crew liked Pratt’s Andy Dwyer so much that they kept him on for the remainder of the show.
The two actors shared the same creators, Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, with both The Office and Parks and Recreation. Maybe because of the atmosphere in these series, Pratt and Krasinski also maintain similar points of view on what they value in acting. According to IGN, Chris Pratt revealed that what matters to him is the relationships he forms with fellow actors and the crew. Similarly, Krasinski tells Den of Geek that the most effective acting connects with something “universal” and real.
Pratt and Krasinski as Action Heroes
The two actors, despite their love for their goofy sitcom characters, branched out into action movies around the same time. Chris Pratt got ripped to play a Navy SEAL in 2012’s Zero Dark Thirty, and then released and Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014. Those roles were a major change from when Pratt had intentionally gained weight for his role as Andy Dwyer. Director James Gunn was very skeptical about casting Pratt as the self-deprecating but athletic Peter Quill and was only sold once Pratt had auditioned.
Chris Pratt embarked on a strict weight-loss regimen and managed to portray a strong but goofy hero. The role certainly inspired director Colin Trevorrow to later cast Pratt in 2015’s Jurassic World. John Krasinski didn’t debut in his first action role until 13 Hours in 2016. Similar to Chris Pratt with Zero Dark Thirty, Krasinski had to get in shape to depict an American military hero. According to a Screen Rant interview, Krasinski said that it was less about accepting a different role and more “the responsibility of knowing that [they] were telling a true story.”
After proving himself in 13 Hours, Krasinski was then cast as Jack Ryan in 2018. Krasinski’s view of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan resonates with the idea of the everyman hero. According to Variety, the actor says that Jack Ryan is “such a great hero for right now. He doesn’t have a cape, he doesn’t have stuff flying out of his hands, he’s just a guy with his brain and his instincts.”
The Future of the Everyman Hero
Chris Pratt and John Krasinski have truly paved the way for more sustainable and relatable heroes. Their ability to transition from their goofy sitcom characters to likable and accessible action heroes has not only made them alike but changed the perception of similar roles forever.
Pratt and Krasinski not only respect the emergence of intelligent heroes, but are both passionate about the experience of real heroes, including the military members they frequently work with on set. Back in 2017, the two actors completed the Murphy challenge together to honor military members and everyday people who sacrifice their lives.
