Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set to finally introduce Adam Warlock, with the character being portrayed by Will Poulter. While exact plot details of Vol. 3 are still being kept under wraps, Poulter's inclusion as Adam Warlock clearly indicates that it will continue the tease at the end of Vol. 2 where the Sovereign look to unleash the character against the Guardians for revenge.
This essentially hints at the fact that the MCU newcomer will be involved in heavy action sequences in the upcoming project, meaning that intense Marvel training is needed. The franchise is no stranger to vigorous training sessions, as more stars have been open about their preparation for their superhero roles, such as Shang-Chi's Simu Liu and Captain Marvel actress Brie Larson.
Now, as the film is in the midst of production, a new interview has shed some light on Poulter's preparation for the role.
Will Poulter Opens up About His Marvel Training
Will Poulter, who will play the MCU's Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, sat down with The Independent to talk about his training progress for the role.
Poulter first unveiled that preparing for his Marvel role has been "interesting," pointing out that his mental and physical health has to be "number one" and aesthetic goals have to be "secondary."
The actor then admitted that he would not recommend to anyone what he did to nab the role since it would be "unhealthy and unrealistic" if one didn't have the financial backing of a studio that accommodates one's meals and training:
“It’s difficult talking about it because with Marvel it’s all secret squirrel, but the most important thing is that your mental and physical health has to be number one, and the aesthetic goals have to be secondary, otherwise you end up promoting something that is unhealthy and unrealistic if you don’t have the financial backing of a studio paying for your meals and training. I’m in a very privileged position in that respect, and I wouldn’t recommend anyone do what I did to get ready for that job.”
The star of The Maze Runner also revealed a detailed breakdown of his preparation for the role, which included a "very, very specific diet:"
"It’s been a lot of gym work and a very, very specific diet. It means not particularly civilized at times. Quantities of food you wouldn’t necessarily want to ingest. And other times, not enough food. I’ve gone through a series of different diets over the last few months."
Poulter then shared that he's currently in a "maintenance phase," meaning that he's just maintaining his weight for the role rather than gaining or losing pounds:
"Now I’m in a maintenance phase, which is quite nice. I’m not eating copious amounts of food in bulk, and I’m not cutting. I’m just maintaining my weight. I’ve gone through periods of looking at food and feeling like I can’t face it, and then you blink and the next minute you’re ready to eat furniture because you’re so hungry.”
The Essence of Marvel Training
Intense training for a superhero role is already a given, considering the high number of action sequences that the actors will need to do during production.
Will Poulter is no stranger to thrilling action set pieces, as evidenced by his experience in The Revenant and The Maze Runner. The actor's previous work combined with his recent comments about prioritizing mental and physical health serves as the right mindset during his preparation, thus leading to a smooth transition for his Marvel role.
Furthermore, his latest remarks about maintaining his weight also cement his passion for his upcoming role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. This is on top of his previous reveal that he had already dyed his hair blonde in order to achieve a comic-accurate look.
In the pages of Marvel Comics, Adam Warlock is a formidable character whose powers include superhuman strength, speed, stamina, flight, and cosmic energy manipulation. The character's wide range of abilities means that it requires a lot of stunt work behind-the-scenes, but Poulter's dedication should not be a problem, as he appears to be willing to go all in and do whatever it takes to perfectly portray the role.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is set to premiere in theaters on May 5, 2023.
