This Actor Led Two Billion-Dollar Franchises - And His Next Gig Is for America 250
What do the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Super Mario Bros. have in common?
It's an easy answer for all the cinephiles out there, with Chris Pratt being the star of both successful movie franchises.
And now, the 46-year-old actor has his next project lined up, and it's a rather unique one: a series of comedic shorts focused on American history, co-starring presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Variety reports.
In honor of America's 250th anniversary, the shorts will reportedly follow Pratt as he attempts to share his passion for U.S. history, only to discover that his grasp of the facts may not be quite as strong as his enthusiasm. That's where, executive producer and sidekick Goodwin, 83, steps in - to help keep the lessons on track.
Variety also noted on Thursday, June 18 that the project has received funding from the U.S. Department of State's Office of Public Diplomacy and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, intended to "inform and engage foreign publics about America through international media engagement, educational and cultural exchange programs, digital communications, and outreach conducted through U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide," according to an announcement.
The series was designed as a "public diplomacy initiative intended to engage international audiences with America's constitutional values and history through modern digital storytelling," producers told the magazine.
The still-untitled Pratt shorts have reportedly been nicknamed a "Faster Class" for U.S. history, with each episode explores a defining constitutional value through the story of a pivotal historical figure or happening.
Earlier this month, Pratt's ex Anna Faris revealed to Varietyhow she coped with one of the most difficult periods in her life. The Scary Movie actress, 49, revealed that her 2018 divorce from Pratt was one of the saddest moments of her life - but it led to something positive. Find out more here.
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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 6:00 AM.