Chris Pratt says being a child of the 1980s helped him to prepare for 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.

The new Marvel movie makes many references to '80s pop culture and the soundtrack is largely comprised of hit songs from the era, so the 35-year-old actor was able to bring his own experiences to the film.

Pratt's alter-ego Peter Quill travels with an '80s mix-tape which holds sentimental value after he is abducted from Earth as a youngster by an alien ship in 1988.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz at the European premiere of 'Guardians' in London's Leicester Square last night (24.07.14), the actor said: ''What I wanted to bring to the character was this feeling of what it was like to be a nine-year-old in the '80s and what were the pop icons?

''Peter and I are the same exact age, both born in '79, I was nine in 1988 - just like him - and I know what those movies meant to me, everything from 'Star Wars' to 'Back to the Future' and things in between, 'Footloose', the soundtrack ... I understood what it was like to be that child of the '80s and imagine what it would be like if I was swept into space and allowed to pursue my alter-ego.''

Meanwhile, Pratt's co-star Dave Bautista - who plays Drax the Destroyer - revealed there was a relaxed, humorous environment on set.

He said: ''It was a fun cast, we were always joking around. There were more than a few takes where we didn't keep straight faces and burst out laughing.''

Pratt and Bautista were joined on the blue carpet by co-stars Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan and Vin Diesel, as well as director James Gunn.

Other guests included 'Avengers' director Joss Whedon, 'Thor' actor Chris Hemsworth, 'Star Wars' icon Mark Hamill, Ben Hardy, Collabro, Kingsland Road and more.