Chukwudi Iwuji, the latest star addition to the Guardians of the Galaxy films, received a personal gift basket from co-star Chris Pratt's farm as part of an all-around warm introduction to the already well-established franchise.
Iwuji, who is set to play a mysterious and complex new character, spoke to THR about being the new guy on set. When asked if the Guardians cast, who have already grown close over the course of filming five Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, were welcoming, Iwuji responded, "They were. I mean, Chris Pratt was just absolutely lovely. He sent me a basket. He has a farm somewhere."
Pratt, who grew up in Washington State, has a farm on San Juan Island in Puget Sound where he and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger raise pigs, sheep and other livestock. The San Juans are a popular tourist destination for kayaking and spotting orca whales, but are also well-known in the Pacific Northwest as a home to many small, artisanal farms.
But Pratt was not the only welcoming co-star. According to Iwuji, the entire cast and crew created an inviting environment. "You know what it is about them?" said Iwuji of co-stars Zoe Saldaña and Karen Gillan. "They're all freaking down to earth. So yes, there is a version of this that would be intimidating. There is a version where you walk on and deal with a bunch of very closed-off people. But they're all so approachable and down to earth and those are the sort of people James [Gunn] likes to work with. James doesn’t want drama on his set."
Guardians writer/direct James Gunn first worked with Iwuji on the set of Peacemaker, which Gunn also writes and directs. Iwuji impressed Gunn so much in his role as Clemson Murn that Gunn offered Iwuji his mysterious Guardians role out of the blue.
Speaking about the crew as much as the cast of Guardians Vol. 3, Iwuji said, "They are all just doing the job because they believe in the project. When that’s the main emphasis of a project — as opposed to them being there for themselves — that makes a big difference."
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is slated to release in theaters on May 5, 2023.
Source: THR