Why Will Poulter Is A Strange Choice For MCU's Adam Warlock

After much speculation over his possible introduction in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has found its Adam Warlock in Will Poulter, who is a strange choice for the role, but not a bad one. For over a decade, the MCU has brought a variety of characters from Marvel Comics to the big screen – heroes, villains, and allies – and while some of the most popular ones are already a part of this universe, there are still many that fans want to see in it, among those Adam Warlock.

Adam Warlock made his debut in Marvel Comics in 1967 under the name “Him” and as “Adam Warlock” in 1972. In the comics, Warlock was created by a group of scientists called “the Enclave” who wanted to create the perfect human, and so he was given superhuman strength, durability, speed, stamina, and the ability to manipulate cosmic energy for energy projection, flight, recuperation (like creating a cocoon for self-preservation and regeneration), and immortality – he can be killed, but he can’t actually die as Death can’t claim his soul. Adam soon realized he was too powerful and rebelled against his creators, and decided to fly to space.

The origin of Adam Warlock in the MCU, like those of other characters, is very different from the one in the comics. His appearance was teased in one of the many post-credits scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) revealed she had been working on creating a new member of the Sovereign race, more powerful and with the purpose of destroying the Guardians of the Galaxy: Adam. It’s because of this particular tease that fans had been waiting for Adam Warlock to be confirmed to appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and after a lot of speculation (and James Gunn trying to mislead the audience), Will Poulter was confirmed to play the character. Poulter seems like an odd choice for the role, as he doesn’t exactly have what many would call a “superhero image”, and his past roles are very different from Adam Warlock and the MCU.

Poulter’s career began in 2007 in the comedy Son of Rambow, and he has since mostly worked in comedies and more obscure stories. His most notable roles are Eustace Scrubb in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Kenny Rossmore in We’re the Millers, Gally in The Maze Runner and The Maze Runner: Death Cure, Jim Bridger in The Revenant, Colin Ritman in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, and Mark in Midsommar. While Poulter’s career so far doesn’t seem to fit Adam Warlock and the MCU, this doesn’t mean he can’t excel at this new challenge. The MCU has been notable for taking big chances with its casting choices – look no further than to Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark – and they have all worked out so far. Poulter might not have any previous experience in the superhero genre, but he has played some not-so-honest characters and he can do both comedy and drama, showing his range and proving that he can definitely take on the challenge of playing Adam Warlock.

Fans of the MCU have surely learned to trust Marvel's casting choices, as strange as some might seem, so Will Poulter's arrival at this universe shouldn't be one to worry fans. Surely, playing Adam Warlock would be a challenge for anyone, but Poulter has shown he has the talent to play mysterious and dishonest characters while also being able to play comedic roles, so he has everything he needs to join the MCU, play Adam Warlock, and blend in with the style of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

Next: Guardians Of The Galaxy 3: Predicting The Fate Of Every Character