Will Poulter’s acting career so far has undoubtedly been diverse. The British actor stars in everything from Oscar-winners like “The Revenant” to YA Sci-Fi like “The Maze Runner” films, to auteurist fare like Ari Aster’s “Midsommar” and Kathryn Bigelow’s “Detroit.” Up next for Poulter? A musical crime drama, “The Score,” where Poulter stars alongside Johnny Flynn as a small-time crook whose chance encounter with love makes him question his life choices. And after that, there’s “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3,” out next year, where Poulter takes on the role of Adam Warlock.
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In an interview with The Playlist about “The Score,” to be published closer to its release date, Poulter spoke a little about his upcoming role in the MCU. In fact, when Poulter auditioned for the new “Guardians” film, he had no idea what part he was going for.
“I first auditioned in June of last year [2021], and that was the first time I auditioned, and then I kind of got the role in September, I think,” he said. “And then started shooting in December…I didn’t know what character, initially, I was auditioning for. I kind of knew sort of closer to the time [of casting] who I was reading for. Although I wasn’t familiar with Adam Warlock beforehand, I was very familiar with ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ and it was kind of my favorite ‘planet’ within the Marvel universe, if you like. I’m just a huge fan of the tone and the creativity and James Gunn’s work and so many of the actors, you know, that I now get to call colleagues, which I’m very grateful for. So yeah, to have any kind of part in that world is very, very cool for me.”
‘Vol. 3’ of the Guardians series sees Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldaña, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper reunite for another adventure. And like those stars, Poulter had to prep his body to get into superhero shape. Even so, Poulter’s staying mum on how dramatic his transformation was. “I’m hesitant to talk about it because I don’t know how it translated onscreen,” he told us. “That [transformation] was kind of part and parcel of the preparations, and I will say I couldn’t have been better supported by Marvel and the team of people I work with. Like, it took a large number of people to help me get there; it’s not something I did on my own. When the film comes out, I’m hoping to talk about it more candidly.” Indeed, it takes a village to get in peak physical condition even without the caveat of portraying a comic book hero.
Phase 4 of the MCU is well underway at this point, but even with those laid-out plans, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s on the horizon for Marvel’s future. So, is Poulter signed up for multiple appearances as Warlock? Said Poulter: “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know what’s in store for me. I’m waiting to find out, and that’s the honest truth, but, needless to say, I’d love to sort of go on a journey with that character.”
In any case, it sounds like Poulter’s Marvel experience was splendid. Still, “The Score” comes out first for the actor, hitting theaters on June 3. Check out the trailer for “The Score” below and look for our extended interview closer to its release in June.