Timur Bekmambetov directed Chris Pratt in 2008 film Wanted, and reunites with the actor for the upcoming Mercy<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Pratt is \u201cstill the person you can enjoy spending time with,\u201d the filmmaker tells PEOPLE exclusively<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
The action star has a different confidence now compared to almost 20 years ago, says Bekmambetov<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Chris Pratt<\/a> has always been a star, according to the director of one of his first movies.<\/p>\n Timur Bekmambetov, who directed the 46-year-old actor in both 2008\u2019s Wanted and the upcoming Mercy<\/a>, tells PEOPLE recently that working with Pratt is \u201cstill the same\u201d almost 20 years later.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s still the person you can enjoy spending time with,\u201d says the Kazakh-Russian filmmaker, 64, at New York Comic Con. \u201cHe’s the same \u2014 of course, it’s a very different confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n When Bekmambetov cast Pratt in the Angelina Jolie<\/a>-led Wanted, it marked the actor\u2019s first major movie, filmed not long before his breakout casting on NBC\u2019s Parks and Recreation<\/a>. Asked if Pratt is more confident now \u2014\u00a0having led the Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World franchises and voiced such iconic characters as Mario and Garfield \u2014\u00a0Bekmambetov clarifies that \u201che was confident 20 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Craig Barritt\/Getty<\/p>\n Chris Pratt and Timur Bekmambetov<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The father of four<\/a> is \u201cmore responsible\u201d these days, continues the filmmaker. \u201cBecause he is now very important. He feels that he has a weight. He is and he must be responsible for how he behaves.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2008 action film Wanted, Pratt played co-worker and (unfaithful!) best friend to James McAvoy<\/a>. Now taking the spotlight in the Marco van Belle-written Mercy (in theaters Jan. 23, 2026), he\u2019s a detective on trial \u2014 with an artificial intelligence judge played by Rebecca Ferguson<\/a> \u2014\u00a0for the murder of his wife. Pratt’s character Chris Raven must prove his innocence to the AI in only 90 minutes and while confined to a chair<\/a>, making for an action-packed, high-tech thriller.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Chris said yes and that he likes the story, then the movie became a real project,\u201d recalls Bekmambetov. \u201cThen, we were trying to find who could play AI. And there is only one person in the world who is as smart and tough and beautiful as Rebecca.\u201d<\/p>\n Amazon MGM Studios<\/p>\n Chris Pratt in ‘Mercy’<\/p>\n Bekmambetov makes movies for the same reason he cast Pratt again, he says: \u201cIt’s just to spend time with the people I like. And it was an unbelievable experience to be with Chris and Rebecca on set.\u201d<\/p>\n Mercy, costarring Kali Reis<\/a>, Annabelle Wallis<\/a>, Rafi Gavron and more, is in theaters Jan. 23, 2026. Among Pratt\u2019s other upcoming projects are Way of the Warrior Kid (in theaters Dec. 25), The Super Mario Galaxy Movie<\/a> (in theaters April 3, 2026) and a sequel to the animated The Garfield Movie.<\/p>\n![\"Craig](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ed0769b44ff7442fc9a41952a0b0adb9.jpeg\"\/)
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