Chris Pratt’s Audition for Moneyball: A Risk That Paid Off
Chris Pratt is known for surprising people, but his audition for Moneyball was truly next level. Imagine stepping into a room with Brad Pitt and director Bennett Miller, knowing you need to impress them. Most actors would feel nervous, but not Pratt. Instead, he took a huge risk that no one saw coming—and it worked!
During an interview on The Graham Norton Show (via The Independent), Pratt shared his wild audition experience. He was trying out for the role of Scott Hatteberg in the 2011 baseball drama when director Bennett Miller gave him a tough critique. Miller told Pratt to act as if he was just another guy auditioning next to a big Hollywood star like Brad Pitt.
But instead of getting discouraged, Pratt turned the situation around. He responded, “Well, then how about this? This is my house, and you can start by taking your feet off my desk!” He then acted as if he was kicking Pitt and Miller out of the room. He told them to knock and come back in so they could do the audition properly. It was a bold move—and it worked!
Overcoming Challenges in Hollywood
Landing the role in Moneyball was not easy for Pratt. At the time, Hollywood mostly saw him as the funny and goofy Andy Dwyer from Parks and Recreation. Casting directors weren’t offering him serious roles. On top of that, he had already been rejected once for Moneyball because of his weight.
But instead of giving up, Pratt took action. He started working out, lost weight, and trained hard. He wanted to prove that he was more than just a comedy actor. So when he got another chance to audition for Moneyball, he knew he had to make it count. His confident and unexpected audition sealed the deal, and soon, he was acting alongside Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill.
A Career-Defining Moment
Moneyball was a turning point for Pratt. It showed the world that he had serious acting skills. Hollywood took notice, and his career took off. He went from being a TV sidekick to leading major movie franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World. He even became the voice of Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Chris Pratt’s bold Moneyball audition remains one of the biggest risks he ever took in his career—but it was also one of the smartest. Who knew that kicking Brad Pitt out of a room (even as part of an audition) could help turn someone into a Hollywood A-lister?
