Chukwudi Iwuji will play the High Evolutionary in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.Making a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) on July 23, Iwuji walked through Hall H wearing a High Evolutionary costume. Speaking to the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 cast already on stage, Iwuji said, "Call me sire" before he turned to address the crowd. "As I gaze out at this crowd I am reminded of my sole purpose, to take scum like you and enhance you to something less reprehensible," he said while remaining in character. "Thank you for inspiring me with how vomitous you are. The bile I feel looking at you is all the motivation I need to move forward and create the special race. I CAN'T WAIT TO DISSECT ALL OF YOU!"
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, High Evolutionary first appeared in 1966's The Mighty Thor #134. In Marvel Comics, Herbert Wyndham became the High Evolutionary after experimenting with genetics during the 20th century. Inspired by the works of Nathaniel Essex/Mister Sinister, the antagonist is obsessed with perfecting human biology and modifying it however he sees fit.
Iwuji previously worked with Gunn on DC's Peacemaker series when he played the character Clemson Murn. He also appeared in 2017's John Wick: Chapter 2, 2019's When They See Us, 2019's Designated Survivor and more. Iwuji joins a wide range of actors already cast in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Along with returning stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sylvester Stallone, Elizabeth Debicki and Sean Gunn, the film will also star Will Poulter as Adam Warlock, Maria Bakalova as the voice of Cosmo the Space Dog, The Suicide Squad's Daniela Melchior and others.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is directed by James Gunn, who directed the first two films in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. "This is about the final arc that we began in the first movie," said Gunn at SDCC after a trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 screened for the audience at Marvel's Hall H SDCC presentation. "When they first told me about it, I thought it sounds a little goofy, but I was thinking about it driving home and I realized, 'If there's a talking raccoon, he's the saddest creature in the universe.'"
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled to release May 5, 2023.
Source: Marvel