Chris Pratt teams up with the US government for a wildly unlikely buddy comedy

Here's one for the 'wait, what?' pile: Chris Pratt - yes, Star-Lord himself - has apparently signed on for a new TV series funded by, of all things, the US government. Not exactly your run-of-the-mill Hollywood deal.

Chris Pratt and the State Department Walk Into a Comedy...

So, the word on the street (well, straight from Variety) is that Pratt will headline a series of comedy shorts called 'America 250.' The concept? A bizarre yet promising mash-up of American history lessons and buddy comedy, all bankrolled by the US Department of State as part of the country's planned 250th anniversary festivities. You know, fireworks and Chris Pratt explaining the Constitution with the actual government picking up the tab.

The creative force behind this is ATTN:, and they've roped in Alex Gregory — the bloke behind 'Veep' and 'White House Plumbers' — to help produce it. If anyone can wrangle comedy out of bureaucracy, it's probably him.

Who's Actually In It?

Right, the cast: apart from Pratt, the show is bringing in presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Yes, really. Imagine the energy of a Hollywood goofball desperately trying to impress a proper historian, and you've pretty much nailed the premise.

• Chris Pratt: Overenthusiastic about American history, not quite as clued-up as he fancies.
• Doris Kearns Goodwin: Supplies the facts, the corrections, and presumably a few raised eyebrows.

Goodwin's got more skin in the game than just being on camera. She's also executive producing and acting as the main editorial adviser, so there's at least someone making sure Pratt doesn't wander off into complete nonsense.

What's This Actually About?

Described, with straight faces, as a 'Faster Class for US history,' the show will zigzag through major American constitutional moments, mixing live-action and animation. Each short will supposedly follow Pratt as he tries (and largely fails) to get to grips with the stories, principles, and people that actually built the country, with Goodwin on hand to keep him - and the facts - on track. Think: Pratt's trademark daft charm, Goodwin's encyclopaedic knowledge, and a format that seems equally designed for the YouTube crowd and anyone prepping for a citizenship test.

There's definitely a 'public service' angle. The State Department and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs are bankrolling the lot as a 'public diplomacy initiative,' hoping to use sharp, snackable digital storytelling to show off the supposedly timeless virtues of the US constitution (and probably America itself) to a global audience.

Producers and Pitch

Matthew Segal, co-founder and CEO of ATTN:, didn't exactly play coy about the intentions here, lining up what must be the most glowing quote you'll hear this week:

'Chris and Doris are an unexpected but perfect pairing, bringing together entertainment and expertise in a way that feels informative, entertaining, and distinctly modern.'

The producers clearly think they've nailed something both relevant and attention-grabbing — and Pratt isn't short of charisma, however you feel about his sketchy grasp of history. As for how this all plays with an audience, well, that's going to depend on whether a government-backed comedy about democracy lands in quite the way anyone hopes.