Chris Pratt: Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is bigger and better in every way

Chris Pratt has nothing but love for Guardians of the Galaxy, but he’ll be the first to tell you the movie is about to be upstaged — by its sequel.

During a recent appearance at SiriusXM for The Jess Cagle Interview, the leader of Marvel’s ragtag team of interstellar heroes said 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is “just heightened” compared to its predecessor. “It’s bigger and better than the first movie in every way. And that’s saying a lot because I think the first movie is really good.”

The reason for Pratt’s excitement boils down to two words: James Gunn.

“James Gunn is the auteur,” Pratt said of his director. “He’s the man behind Guardians of the Galaxy. He wrote the movie, he directed the movie … The first one and the second one. So this is completely his vision. In my opinion, there is no equal in Hollywood. I think he is the best I’ve worked for, and with. And I owe so much to him. Really. And, it’s him.”

He added that Gunn “knows these characters so deeply now.”

Watch the full episode of The Jess Cagle Interview, streaming now on People/Entertainment Weekly Network (PEN). Go to PEOPLE.com/PEN, or download the app for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xumo, Chromecast, Xfinity, iOS and Android devices.

Unfortunately for GOTG fans, Pratt was reluctant to give up anything else. “I almost don’t want to say anything,” he said. “I know that there’s enough interest for people to go out and see this movie. … All you need to know is I cried when I read the script. It’s really, really fun, but there’s also some genuine, deep emotion that you get to see in this movie. And James Gunn, thank God for James Gunn.”

Listen to the full interview with Pratt on EW Radio (SiriusXM ch. 105) all this week. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens May 5.

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