Chris Pratt’s rise to become a huge MCU star gets a dark parody in HBO’s new comedy show

The following contains spoilers for The Franchise Season 1 Episode 5, ‘Scene 83: Enter the Gurgler,’ now streaming on MaxThe franchiseThe dark vision of actors like Chris Pratt highlights the series’ approach to character comedy. The franchise has been a cutting parody of the film industry, taking particular aim at how superhero franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe work. So far, the show has been a harsh riff on blockbuster cinema’s most relentless and absurd underbelly, with sly commentary on furious fan reactions, industry burnout, and studio interference. It’s been a hard-hitting satire that isn’t afraid to take a solid comedic hammer to the shared cinematic universe.

The latest addition to The franchiseThe cast of characters is a stern actor who shares a history with Billy Magnussen’s Adam, but appears to have a very low opinion of the actor. This guest role actually has some notable connections to one of the MCU’s starsalthough the show turns him into a much more unique (and mean-spirited) character. See how The franchise uses an MCU star’s backstory as the basis for an antagonistic character.

The Gurgler’s Backstory in the Franchise, Explained

Nick Kroll The franchise Character stirs the pot in an already volatile set

Kyle quietly works as a dark version of actors like Chris Pratt and your professional trajectory. Played by Nick Kroll, Kyle is the big-name cameo in the overarching series 2nd centuries​​​​​​ series tied Ceiling more overtly for the superhero franchise. The Gurgler is one of the franchise’s greatest heroes, although he leaves audiences less excited than the mainline heroes. Still, the cameo from the “throat-based proton bubble”-spitting superhero is intended to be a lifeline for the troubled production, which has just experienced a new series of public threats following a story change. Even compared to the rest The franchiseIn Kyle’s chaotic production, Kyle’s presence complicated an already tense vibe.

Kyle fails to quickly disrupt several aspects of the production, undermining his former co-star Adam in front of the entire production, while also unknowingly sowing the seeds for the collapse and transformation of Eric, the director, into a “director difficult”. Effectively serving as an in-joke about the way franchises like the MCU have used Avengers-affiliated cameos in smaller films like Ant-Man, Kyle’s story is a harsher version of a real-life MCU career trajectory.

Gurgler’s history in the franchise reflects Chris Pratt’s career

Two Goofy Sitcom Stars Who Lost Weight and Became On-Screen Superheroes

Although The franchise has a much darker and exaggerated take on the character, Kyle has some similarities to Chris Pratt’s career trajectory. As he reveals during his introductory scene, Kyle previously co-starred on the in-universe sitcom Bread and Butter with Adam. At the moment, Kyle was a much beefier artistwith the early 2000s sitcom apparently making a lot of jokes about her appearance before she lost weight.

Chris Pratt also rose to prominence with his role as Andy in Parks and recreationa silly and chubby employee. When he was cast as Star-Lord in the MCU, however, Pratt’s exercise regiment helped elevate him to a more bankable action star. The show reflected this, but since then Pratt has mostly appeared in films. Similarly, it appears that Kyle underwent a physical transformation and became a member of the famous superhero franchise. It’s a quietly reflective way to take inspiration from real-life superhero franchise actors while also using them to create wildly different characters.

The Gurgler is a darker character than Chris Pratt’s public persona

The Gurgler is a dark character with a very different personality from Pratt

Despite these functional similarities, Kyle’s cameo in the superhero film Ceiling sets up Nick Kroll’s character to be a much darker figure than Pratt’s public presence. Although Chris Pratt’s past association with the Hillsong Church has received backlash, he has never been accused of the immature and vindictive choices Kyle makes in “Scene 83: Enter the Gurgler.” Instead, Kyle is played with a much harsher tone that separates him from Pratt’s more genial public persona. His immediate connection and relationship with Richard E. Grant’s openly offensive actor Peter is a clue to his personality.

Kyle’s verbal attack on Adam is a difficult moment that makes the situation worse, and leaves things with Adam in an awkward place after apologizing for his harsh words with a kiss and a profession of love under the feigned motivation of a “joke.” “. In contrast, Pratt was supported by many of his MCU co-starssuggesting that he lacks the elements that make Kyle a generally detestable figure on set. It’s interesting how in the middle The franchiseThe company’s sardonic approach to the industry has writers finding unique ways to develop true elements of the franchise into the basis for new characters.