Jim Sturgess And Zachary Levi Frontrunners For Star-Lord In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Variety reports that Marvel Studios has two frontrunners for the role of Peter Quill better known as Star-Lord in Guardians of The Galaxy.  They report the two actors are Jim Sturgess who was originally in the group of five actors listed as testing for the lead along with Marvel alum Zachary Levi . Levi recently wrapped production on Thor: The Dark World replacing Joshua Dallas as Fandral The Dashing. An unnamed actor might also test after the holidays.

Zachary had been originally considered for Fandral but had to turn it down because of his series Chuck. Jim recently caught the attention of Marvel by his multiple roles in The Wachowskis' Cloud Atlas. One of them giving the actor a chance to play an action heavy part. At one point he had also been considered for Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man before Andrew Garfield was eventually cast as Parker.

UPDATE: Writer/director James Gunn has tweeted that the casting stories have been mostly false. However, he could be just misdirecting while the hunt for the lead is likely still wide open.

Actors Testing For Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Deadline reports that Marvel is currently looking to cast actors in James Gunn's Guardians of The Galaxy. Deals have been made to have Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty, Star Wars, Animal Kingdom, Warrior), Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire), Jim Sturgess (Cloud Atlas), Lee Pace (Hobbit, The Fall, Lincoln) and Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables) test for Peter Quill/Star-Lord. While Peter Quill aka Star-Lord will be the main role there are still key parts left to fill which could include Drax, Nova and Adam Warlock. I wouldn't be shocked that these actors will also be considered for supporting parts in the franchise which will hit theaters on August 1st 2014.

Joel Edgerton has the best chance here with Zero Dark Thirty gathering a massive amount of attention and could land some serious awards consideration. He had been previously linked to speaking with Marvel for a role which very well could have been Peter Quill all along.

While they aren't confirmed for tests, actors such as Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy), Sullivan Stapleton (Strike Back, Animal Kingdom) and James Marsden (X-Men 1-3, Superman Returns) are also interested in the project. Sullivan is already heading up a comic book film with the prequel to 300. Garrett apparently turned down a chance to play Captain America to land Tron Legacy, something the actor regrets? A name that seems to be the odd man out is James Marsden best known for playing Cyclops in the original X-Men trilogy. Like Chris Evans, James has roots already in the Marvel film universe but doesn't seem like a good fit among these choices.

Joel Kinnaman Cast As Lancelot In Arthur & Lancelot

HeatVision reports that Joel Kinnaman has landed the role of Lancelot in Warner Bros' Arthur & Lancelot. It had been reported that Joel and Kit Harrington (Game of Thrones) were the front-runners of the film. The studio will now have Joel do chemistry reads with other candidates that include Kit Harrington, Sam Claflin (On Stranger Tides, Snow White & The Huntsman), Dominic Cooper (Captain America, Devil's Double), Hans Matheson (Sherlock Holmes), Jim Sturgess, Ben Walker (Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter, Paradise Lost) and Liam Hemsworth (Expendables 2). This very well means that Joel is now out of the running for Steven Soderbergh's The Man From UNCLE.