A new Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 photo shows Will Poulter as Adam Warlock in full costume and his comic-accurate golden skin.

In the comics, Adam Warlock is an artificial cosmic being genetically engineered to be the next evolution of humanity. While the character's cinematic debut differs slightly from the comics, his overall presence is similar. Adam Warlock's addition to the MCU was teased at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 when it was revealed that Sovereign leader Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) created him to take down the Guardians after they double-crossed her.

RELATED: GOTG Vol. 3's Will Poulter Says Method Acting Is Used As 'An Excuse For Inappropriate Behavior'

Empire Magazine spoke to director James Gunn about the new character and what fans can expect from his big-screen debut. When asked about Adam Warlock's villainous intentions, Gunn said, “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 Warlock, newly out of the cocoon, and he does not understand life very well. He’s basically a baby.” Gunn also commented on Poulters' casting, which came as a surprise to many fans. “People online were saying, ‘Oh, Tom Cruise should be Adam Warlock,’” said Gunn. “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.”

gotg-vol-3-adam-warlock-excl

Based on what Gunn said about the character, it sounds like Warlock's allegiances won't be so clear. While he was created to take down the Guardians, there's a good chance they join forces to take on a much bigger evil, likely in the form of the film's main antagonist, Chukwudi Iwuji's High Evolutionary. Both characters were only teased in the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 trailer, so their roles in the story are still unknown.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 will be Gunn's conclusion to the story he began in 2014 and his final foray into the MCU before he paves the way for the future DC cinematic universe. Based on the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 trailer, the film will be an emotional rollercoaster, likely expanding on the team's tragic backstories. It's more than likely that not every Guardian makes it out alive, but based on Gunn's comments, fans can expect to see much more Adam Warlock in the MCU.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 premieres in theaters on May 5th, 2023.

MORE: Guardians Of The Galaxy 3: 7 Things You Need To Know About Adam Warlock

Source: Empire Online