When the name Kurt Russell was first rumored  for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, a good number of fans correctly speculated that he’d be up for the role of Star-Lord’s father. In retrospect, it seems like inspired casting — one that is a natural fit for director James Gunn.

However, speaking with Empire, it sounds like Gunn can’t take any credit for this choice:

“He was actually not in my head initially, but one day Chris [Pratt] suggested him,and I would have been really disappointed if he’d said no. Hey, if you have to cast anything, Kurt’s a pretty good way to go.”

Indeed, I don’t think any film fan is going to complain about Russell taking on this important role in the flick, but one of the big questions is how Peter Quill will react to finding his father. It was very clear in the first Guardians how much love he had for his mother, but for all intents and purposes, it’s logical to think that Quill thinks only of his father as the man who left him and his mother behind.

Chris Pratt elaborated on this idea, telling Empire about part of the emotional journey we could expect from Quill and his father, Ego the Living Planet.

“You’re going to see these characters having to endure the realities of being in a family. You’re talking about a guy who’s been longing to know who his father is for a long time. He’ll discover if that person lives up to the expectations he has in his head.”

If the first Guardians of the Galaxy was anything, it was a lesson in how even the toughest of characters have soft spots, and with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it looks like we’ll get an even deeper look at Quill’s gooshy innards. Given how character-centric all the Marvel films have been to date, I think it’s very clear that they’ve been taking the right approach, and this looks to continue that tradition.

What do you think of Gunn and Pratt’s comments? Let us know your thoughts down below!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters on May 5, 2017.

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SOURCE: Empire