James Gunn Explains His "Complicated" Reasons For Choosing Will Poulter In 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' 3'

Poulter will play Adam Warlock in the upcoming superhero movie.

James Gunn may seem like a man on a mission to revive DC Comics on the big and small screens, but he has the not-so-trivial task of rebooting Iron Man and The Dark Knight before he actually gets around to it.

That trilogy is of course Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - Only a few months away from launch. That means not only navigating his beloved characters to their destinations (and in some cases, their final destinations), but taking the time to introduce new characters to help guide Marvel into their future without Gunn. After the end credits scene of Thor: The Dark World, fans have been waiting for Adam Warlock's inevitable entry into the MCU. In the MCU, Warlock was created by Ayesha, the Sovereign leader and high priestess of a genetically engineered alien race known as the Sovereign, out to destroy the Guardians.

However, Gunn felt that it wasn't just killing people there without feeling it. Although Warlocks aren't exactly considered allies when they first encounter Guardians, As Gunn explained to Empire Magazine. With that in mind, that's why Gunn felt Adam's casting was so important, and why he ultimately chose Will Poulter, a British actor who grew up playing comedic and dramatic roles, to take on the responsibility.

It’s kind of more complicated than that. But he’s definitely not a good guy. What we’re seeing is the infant form of Adam Warlock, newly out of the cocoon, and he does not understand life very well. He’s basically a baby. People online were saying ‘Oh, Tom Cruise should be Adam Warlock’. I wanted somebody who was youthful, and I wanted somebody who had the dramatic chops and the comedic chops, not only for this movie but for what Marvel will use Adam Warlock for in the future. He could become this really important character.

Gunn has previously revealed that Adam is a more traditional superhero, though he admits that "heroes might push it". Adam's advanced superpowers make him a formidable foe, and his clash with the Guardians is sure to present "an interesting juxtaposition with where we're at right now."

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 also stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper and Sean Gunn, which will be released worldwide on May 5, 2023. Check out the movie trailer below.