In 2014, Chris Pratt’s father, who struggled with multiple sclerosis, died while the star was filming Jurassic World. However, it wasn’t until Pratt began working on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 that he could seriously begin processing his feelings.

“The truth is I ripped open some wounds that had been healing for some time. And I didn’t want to,” Pratt told British GQ. “But I knew it was right for the moment… There are wounds that are never going to be totally healed. It would probably make for a better story if it was some emotional thing that I hadn’t dealt with… When we face the death of a parent, you sometimes feel regret that you didn’t fully embrace what you had.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will deal with the relationship between Pratt’s character, Star-Lord, and his absentee, alien father, Ego (Kurt Russell). It is easy to see how having to embody that role would lead Pratt towards revisiting his own relationship with his own father.

Pratt can next be seen starring opposite Jennifer Lawrence in the science fiction movie Passengers, opening in theaters on Dec. 21, 2016.

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Writer and director James Gunn returns for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Glenn Close, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, and Kurt Russell.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will continue the adventures of Star-Lord’s rag-tag team of heroes – Drax, Gamora, Rocket, and Groot – and introduce new characters like Mantis, Ayesha, and Ego the Living Planet to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens in theaters May 5, 2017.