Chris Pratt is returning to familiar territory with a military role, but his upcoming Apple TV film Way of the Warrior Kid will show a very different side of the actor.
Known for playing military and law enforcement characters in projects such as Zero Dark Thirty and The Terminal List, Pratt has built a reputation for portraying tough, disciplined figures. Earlier this year, he played a police officer in the AI-focused film Mercy, which performed poorly in cinemas but gained popularity on streaming platforms.
Now, Pratt is stepping into another military character with a different mission.
In Way of the Warrior Kid, Pratt plays Jake, a decorated Navy SEAL who spends a summer with his sister Sarah, played by Linda Cardellini, and her son Marc, played by Jude Hill.
Instead of heading into battle, Jake uses his military experience to help his nephew overcome struggles at school.
Marc faces bullying, poor grades, difficult physical education classes and a lack of friendships. While many films about bullying follow the familiar story of a child learning to fight back, Way of the Warrior Kid takes a different approach.
Jake creates “Operation Warrior Kid”, using his training to help Marc discover confidence and courage. Although details of the mission remain unclear, the film’s description says Jake will show Marc “what real courage is”.
The journey also helps Jake confront his own personal struggles.
Directed by McG, the film was written and adapted for the screen by Will Staples. It is based on Jocko Willink’s book of the same name.
For fans waiting to see Pratt in a more intense action role, the actor will also return as James Reece in the second season of Prime Video’s espionage thriller The Terminal List.
Four years after the first season premiered, the new chapter will follow Reece as he continues a journey of violent redemption and searches for a new purpose after completing his mission of revenge.
The second season is based on Jack Carr’s book True Believer and will premiere on Wednesday, 21 October.
