Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty ImagesChris Pratt has confirmed what we all kinda, sorta already knew—the guy is set to star in the latest installment of the wildly popular Jurassic Park film franchise, Jurassic World.
After months of rumors that the Parks and Recreation actor was slated to play the movie's male lead, the 34-year-old himself shared the good news while promoting his next flick, The Lego Movie, at Legoland in Carlsbad,Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 26.
"For me, Jurassic Park was really kind of my Star Wars," Pratt told QMI Agency (via Peace River Record Gazette). "I lined up at the theater to see it, I saw it opening night, I saw every sequel. I've seen it a whole bunch of times...for me that was my big movie, I think I was 13 or 14 when it came out."
He added, "So it's a big deal for me to be any part of that, let alone this part I'm going to be playing. I'm thrilled about it. Everybody around the world knows that franchise. When you say Jurassic Park, no one is like, 'What's Jurassic Park?' More people know Jurassic Park than just about anything. I'm thrilled."
Well, Pratt certainly has a point. Sure, 2001's Jurassic Park III's global box office take may have only been $369 million, but the first two, directed by Steven Spielberg, earned $915 million and $619 million respectively.
Jurassic World, which will be helmed by Colin Trevorrow, is scheduled to be released on June 12, 2015.