Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s villain supports a big theory about Adam Warlock’s role in the movie. At San Diego Comic-Con 2022, it was confirmed that Peacemaker’s Chukwudi Iwuji will play the High Evolutionary in the final installment in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy saga. The classic Marvel Comics villain is poised to be the movie’s main villain.

The High Evolutionary is one of at least two characters expected to come to blows with Star-Lord’s team in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The other is Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock. Set up by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s post-credits scene, Warlock was created by the Sovereigns to take revenge on the Guardians. While an attempt could be made to fulfill his mission in the movie, there’s a strong likelihood that any plan to kill them will be abandoned by the end of the film. After all, Warlock is a major player in the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe and a character with a good chance of showing up in future MCU crossovers.

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Multiple theories explain how Adam Warlock gets introduced and where he fits into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. One idea in particular feels extremely likely after the movie’s villain reveal. Not long after his introduction in Marvel Comics, Warlock was recruited by High Evolutionary, equipped with the Soul Stone, and sent on a mission to save a place called Counter-Earth. Since meeting the High Evolutionary is considered the true starting point of Warlock’s Marvel Comics journey, it was theorized even before the rumors of the character’s involvement that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 would move in the same direction by putting Warlock in the service of an MCU interpretation of the High Evolutionary. After all, the movie using the character always felt like a real possibility because he provides an excellent explanation for Rocket Raccoon’s origin.

Why Adam Warlock Would Help The High Evolutionary

Adam Warlock joining forces with the High Evolutionary works for both the characters and the story. In Avengers: Infinity War, most of the Guardians died to the snap, thus preventing the MCU's Adam Warlock from completing the Sovereigns’ mission. If he can’t do what he was made to do, it stands to reason that the genetically-engineered being would be in need of a new purpose. That’s not at all unlike the state of mind his comic counterpart was in when he met the High Evolutionary. Having nothing better to do with his life, he agreed to become the High Evolutionary’s champion. It’s not hard to imagine Will Poulter’s MCU character ending up with the same motivations.

Furthermore, following the comics and aligning Adam Warlock with the High Evolutionary makes perfect sense for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Warlock represents a loose end from the Sovereign subplot from the second movie, whereas the High Evolutionary (a character known for transforming animals into anthropomorphic creatures) is at the center of a new story presumably tied to Rocket Raccoon’s origin. Instead of trying to do too much at once, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 can easily streamline its stories by roping Adam Warlock into the High Evolutionary’s schemes and making him the villain’s pawn.