'Parks and Recreation' star lands 'Guardians of the Galaxy' lead role

Chris Pratt's character on NBC's Parks and Recreation may be a shiftless, immature slacker, but the actor himself is a busy man who is much in-demand in Hollywood these days.

Following his heroic turn in Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty, Pratt has landed the lead role in the next blockbuster superhero film franchise from Marvel Studios, Guardians of the Galaxy, scheduled for release on August 1, 2014.

Based on the obscure comic book series, the movie will be directed by James Gunn (Slither, Super, Scooby Doo) and star Pratt as Star-Lord, real name Peter Quill, the leader of the titular Guardians and the offspring of a human mother and an alien father.

According to reports, Pratt beat out a handful of other television stars for the part. Other rumored candidates include Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire), Zachary Levi (Chuck), Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies), and Eddie Redmayne, who starred in the TV miniseries Pillars of the Earth. Marvel also pursued Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who started his rise to fame on TV with 3rd Rock From The Sun.

Prior to Parks and Recreation, Pratt had a recurring role on FOX's The O.C. and starred on The WB's family drama Everwood. He broke out in 2011 with a major role in the Academy Award nominated Moneyball and most recently starred as a Navy SEAL in the critically acclaimed Zero Dark Thirty.

Would you have ever guessed that Andy Dwyer would be chosen to carry a major tentpole film franchise?