GOT 3
One of the major highlights of Marvel Studio’s SDCC 2022 presentation was the unveiling of James Gunn Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 (GOTG 3). During the Hall H presentation, Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, announced that the film will hit theaters on May 5, 2023 with a new logo. The film will be part of the MCU’s phase five The Multiverse Saga.
Afterwards, Feige introduced the cast of the film. With director James Gunn in the lead, returning cast members Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Karen Gillan (Nubela), Pom Klementieff (Mantis) and Sean Gunn (Kraglin) arrived on stage. Dave Batista (Drax), Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket) and Zoe Saldana (Gamora) were missing. Exclusive trailers were also shown to Comic-Con audiences.
Along with them, a few new members make their debut with this film. This includes – Maria Bakalova as the voice of Cosmo the SpaceDog, Will Poulter as Adam Warlock, and Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary. This article attempts to dig a little deeper into the comic book history of these new characters and their implications for the overall MCU timeline.
Cosmo – The Space Dog
With his first appearance in 2007’s Nova (Vol. 4) #8, Cosmo was previously a test animal for the Soviet Space Program (СССР). It was launched into Earth orbit as part of an experiment. However, his spacecraft drifted out of orbit during the 1960s, eventually sending him to the Find out here. At some point during the space drift, cosmic rays mutated him, giving him his psionic powers. He possesses powers like telekinesis and telepathy and has the ability to speak. Recently in the comics, Cosmo is also part of the Guardians of the Galaxy group and helps them chart courses for hotspots in the universe.
The adorable character had already appeared live in the first guardians of the galaxy movie inside the Collectors Museum. He also briefly appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. However, in this movie, he will be voiced by Maria Bakalova (the dog was gender-changed for MCU) and will likely be Knowhere’s head of security after he escapes from The Collector. The SpaceDog will likely have an important role in the film.
The High Evolutionary
One of the many surprises of SDCC 2022 was the arrival of Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary in full costume on stage. The character will be the main antagonist of the film. In the Marvel comics, the High Evolutionary was born human and was named Herbert Edgar Wyndham. While studying in England, he became intrigued by the concept of genetic manipulation. As a result, he began to conduct experiments on many animals.
He was able to evolve animals into half-human, half-animal beings dubbed New Men. Wyndham trained the New Men in combat, and they began to refer to Wyndham as the Lord High Evolutionary. Eventually, the High Evolutionary departed for space, where he settled on a new planet – Wundagore II. He began to build his own world: Counter-Earth.
With an intelligence as evolved as any cosmic entity, High Evolutionary possesses superhuman strength, durability, energy manipulation, telepathy, telekinesis, and extra-dimensional travel. It is theorized that he will turn out to be the creator of Rocket the Raccoon in GOTG 3. Therefore, audiences will also get a glimpse of Rocket’s origin story.
Adam Warlock
In the Marvel comics, a group of researchers who called themselves the Enclave decided to create “the perfect human being”. The being thus born was simply called Him. (He also had a sister known as ‘His‘ and later as ‘Kismet‘). Unaware of all life experience, Him attempted to kidnap Lady Sif but was stopped by Thor and nearly beaten to death. Humiliated and defeated, Him retired to his cacoon.
After a few years, it is reborn under the name of Adam Warlock with the help of The High Evolutionary. The High Evolutionary gave Warlock purpose, direction, and the Soul Gem. He became Adam’s mentor. Later, Adam became a protector of the High Evolutionary’s Counter-Earth. (Warlock even has a twisted future incarnation of himself, known as magician who is totally insane and horribly powerful). Warlock even wielded all of the Infinity Stones at once (called Infinity Gems in the comics). Adam has also defeated big bads like Thanos in the comics. He is the leader of a group responsible for protecting the Infinity Gems – The infinity watch.
Adam Warlock has abilities like combat skills, hacking, master tactician, master manipulator, mystical knowledge and is a xeno-multilingual (meaning he knows all alien languages). Adam Warlock was teased in the post-credits scene of GOTG 2. He was shown to be in a cacoon in Ayesha – the Golden High Priestess of the Ruler. After a long wait by Marvel fans, it’s about to make its live debut. The character will be portrayed by Will Poulter.
