James Gunn: Adam Warlock is ‘Not A Good Guy’ in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

James Gunn revealed quite a bit of info about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s Adam Warlock, who is being played by Will Poulter.

The director told Empire about Warlock’s role in the upcoming Marvel Studios sequel and where he stands in relation to the Guardians of the Galaxy.

“It’s kind of more complicated than that,” Gunn clarified when asked if Warlock’s sole purpose is to take down the Guardians. “But he’s definitely not a good guy. What we’re seeing is the infant form of Warlock, newly out of the cocoon, and he does not understand life very well. He’s basically a baby.”

Gunn then spoke about what he looked for while casting Warlock and the character’s potential importance to the MCU.

“People online were saying, ‘Oh, Tom Cruise should be Adam Warlock,’” Gunn said. “I wanted somebody who was youthful, and I wanted the person 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.”

An image of Poulter as Adam Warlock was also released as part of the interview. Check out the new Adam Warlock photo below:

The character of Adam Warlock first appeared in 1967 in Fantastic Four #66-67. In the comics, Warlock played a central role in the “Infinity Gauntlet” storyline and is known for often being the bearer of the gauntlet’s Soul Stone. In the years since, Warlock has been part of the Guardians of the Galaxy and has appeared in multiple video games and television shows.

“In Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days,” reads the synopsis. “Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set to premiere on May 5, 2023.