Later this year, Star Lord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon and their allies will return in Guardians of the Galaxy. 3 is the final film of James Gunn’s Marvel trilogy. This part could mean the end of the road for at least a few of Gunn’s cute space assholes. And although this is a sobering thought, the first Vol. 3 trailer says that this version of the team is going with a bang. One character who’s going to shake things up a bit is Adam Warlock, played by the talented Will Poulter. The British star really had to impress Gunn to get an impressive role, and the director explained why he was best suited for stars like Tom Cruise.
Adam Warlock was originally teased during a mid-credits scene in Guardians of the Galaxy 2017. 2, and it didn’t take long for fans to start speculating about who might play that role. Some fans imagined the role of Zac Efron, while others mentioned the aforementioned “Mission Impossible” icon. James Gunn turned out to be very meticulous in the selection of actors for his films, and it seems that this was no exception with his trilogy. The director, who apparently asked big questions about Will Poulter before choosing him, revealed that the Midsomer graduate possessed key qualities that set him apart from his peers:
People on the Internet were saying, “Oh, Tom Cruise should be Adam Warlock.” A warlock for the future.
Will Poulter was chosen for the role of the Warlock back in 2021, which was confirmed by his director shortly after. When Poulter himself later broke his silence, he expressed how “lucky and honored” he was “to be accepted into the Marvel family.” No disrespect to Tom Cruise or any of the other stars, but it’s not hard to see why James Gunn wanted Poulter to play the role, given how diverse his work has been over the years. He has demonstrated impeccable acting in critically acclaimed films such as Survivor and Detroit, as well as in more commercial films such as We Are the Millers and The Maze Runner.
As the head of the Suicide Squad suggested during a conversation with Empire magazine, Adam Warlock could become an important player in the development of the Marvel cinematic universe. It is likely that he will eventually join the MCU heroes and help in the fight against the Thanos-level threat from the multiverse Saga, Kang the Conqueror. But immediately, the director of “Guardians 3” teased that during his debut, Adam would want more than just revenge on the titular team in the name of the Lord:
It’s somehow more complicated. But he’s definitely not a good guy. What we see is the infant form of a Warlock who has just emerged from a cocoon, and he does not understand life very well. He’s a baby.
This “kid” is bound to cause serious damage before everything is said and done, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what Will Poulter will do in this role. It’s undeniably interesting to think what someone like Tom Cruise will bring to this role. However, given James Gunn’s track record, I’m sure he found the right person in Poulter.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens in theaters on May 5 as part of the release schedule of new films for 2023. You can prepare for the movie by streaming the first two parts along with the holiday release using a Disney+ subscription.
