GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 - 8 Cosmic Characters We Need To See Join Adam Warlock In The Threequel

Last night, news broke that Will Poulter will take on the role of Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Now, we're looking at the characters we hope to see join him in James Gunn's threequel...

By JoshWilding - Oct 12, 2021 08:10 AM EST

Filed Under: Vol. 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is finally starting to take shape, which is evident from writer and director James Gunn teasing his plans for these A-Holes on social media.

Last night, rumours that Will Poulter had been cast as Adam Warlock were confirmed, and something tells us that there's a lot more to come. With that in mind, we have a few suggestions for the cosmic characters who could join him in this threequel; we're obviously not expecting all of them to show up, but there's no denying that they're all equally deserving of the spotlight.

Marvel Studios may have introduced the Guardians of the Galaxy and brought Thanos to Earth, but the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe remains largely unexplored. Eternals promises to delve deeper into the significance of the Celestials, but these heroes and villains should not be overlooked.

To find out who we've singled out, all you guys need to do is click on the "Next" button below...

8. Genis-Vell

Marvel Studios obviously made some key changes to Mar-Vell in Captain Marvel, but they have the opportunity to continue that character's legacy by introducing ~~his~~ her son, Genis-Vell. The fact that, in the comic books, he's also the child of an Eternal could nicely tie into Eternals as well.

Genis-Vell went by Captain Marvel for a time, and has both been driven insane and joined the Thunderbolts during his storied history. However, when his teammates realised that he was on the brink of a breakdown that could endanger the entire Earth, they were forced to put him down.

There's a lot of storytelling potential here, and with a long list of superpowers, he's someone who could make for an interesting ally - or enemy - to the Guardians and Captain Marvel in the MCU.

7. Quasar

Wendell Vaughn was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent deemed unfit for fieldwork by superiors who believed that he lacked the necessary killer instinct to succeed. During his first assignment at a research facility performing experiments on alien "Quantum Bands," Wendell was forced to don them when the criminal scientists A.I.M. attacked.

Using the bands’ power to generate energy constructs to fend off the attackers, he realised what it would take to unleash their power, and that lack of a killer instinct helped cement him as a hero.

While far from an A-List character, Quasar has potential, and Marvel Studios could obviously choose to use the female version of the character Avril Kincaid (which would bring even more diversity into this shared world and is a great character in her own right). Whether he or she appears in Vol. 3 could hinge on how much time the movie spends on Earth.

6. The Beyonder

Secret Wars remains a game-changing event for Marvel Comics, and one the Russo Brothers are desperate to bring to the big screen. Of course, The Beyonder could easily be introduced before then.

In that famous storyline, he created "Battleworld" and pit Earth’s heroes and villains against each other for little more than his own curiosity and pleasure. He’s all about having fun, and as one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe, the character would obviously be a formidable foe for the combined forces for every hero on both Earth and in outer space.

There are a lot of ways Marvel Studios can reinvent The Beyonder, and it's hard not to be excited about what that might entail. When it comes to this movie, we're sure a cameo appearance could be used to help set the stage for a bigger story down the line that somehow includes the surviving Guardians (a team we're sure this deranged villain would take great pleasure in toying with).

5. Galactus (And The Silver Surfer)

Now that Marvel Studios has regained the rights to the Fantastic Four franchise, it's inevitable that Galactus and the Silver Surfer will show up sooner rather than later. The former has the potential to be the next Thanos, while his herald can, and should, team up with pretty much every MCU hero imaginable.

The prospect of seeing these two in live-action is, quite frankly, mind-blowing. Sure, we've had a cloud version of Galactus and an admittedly faithful version of the Silver Surfer, but it really doesn't feel like we've seen the definitive take on either one of them. Marvel Studios can now change that.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 could very easily drop some hints about the existence of them both, and if nothing else, we're sure Silver Surfer could cross paths with the team, even if it's just to help them stop the insanely powerful Adam Warlock...before revealing who he really works for, of course.

4. Hyperion

The last living Eternal from another Earth, Hyperion was freed by The Avengers after falling into the clutches of A.I.M., and ended up being a pivotal part of that superhero team as time passed.

Incredibly powerful, he's able to absorb cosmic energy which gives him a lot of different powers, while his strength is pretty much off the charts. In fact, he even managed to stop two different Earths from colliding during an Incursion event, and even carried the city of Atlantis out of the ocean on his back.

While his history isn't necessarily rooted in outer space, Hyperion is definitely one of those heroes - like Captain Marvel, in some respects - who is so powerful, he should take on cosmic threats. There had been rumours about Squadron Supreme appearing in Loki, but we're sure this character's origin could somehow be tied into Adam Warlock's in order to lay the groundwork for their debut.

3. Nova

In the comic books, Richard Rider was chosen at random by the alien Rhomann Dey (played by John C. Reilly in Guardians of the Galaxy) to inherit his power and succeed him in the rank of Nova Prime. Glenn Close actually played Nova Prime in that movie, but we've not seen the Nova Corps since and know that Thanos wiped them out before Avengers: Infinity War started.

A flashback could very easily reveal Nova's origin story, of course, and it now makes sense for him to carry the burden of being the final member of the Nova Corps after Thanos' heinous actions.

James Gunn has made it clear that he has little to no interest in putting Nova in one of his Guardians of the Galaxy movies, while there were once plans for him to appear in the last two Avengers adventures, but he sadly failed to make the cut. Kevin Feige has hinted at plans for the hero, though, so here's hoping the filmmaker can be convinced to revisit that Nova Corps concept.

2. Gladiator

While Marvel Studios regaining the rights to the X-Men is undeniably exciting, it's important to remember that there are a lot of other characters from that world who come as part of the package.

Among them are the Shi'ar Empire, and one member of that alien race we're particularly excited to see is Gladiator. A member of the Imperial Guard, he's defeated threats like the Phoenix and Vulcan, and eventually managed to take charge of the entire Shi'ar Empire after the death of Lilandra.

Gladiator is an absolute powerhouse, and his strength alone makes him one of the Marvel Universe's most powerful heroes. As well as being practically invulnerable, he can travel at the speed of light. We'd like to see the Shi'ar Empire factor into this movie, perhaps as a rival of sorts to Ayesha and the Sovereign. Plus, who better to fight Adam Warlock than a badass warrior like Gladiator?

1. Cosmo

You thought a gun-toting, talking raccoon was crazy? Well, how about a telepathic Russian space dog? The canine hero is the head of security on the space station known as Knowhere, and later becomes a liaison to the Guardians of the Galaxy, assisting them in plotting their passport destinations and travelling to trouble spots in the universe via the Continuum Cortex.

He actually made a couple of cameo appearances in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy as part of The Collector's collection, but that was pretty much it, and he certainly didn't get the chance to talk.

Thanos decimated Knowhere in Avengers: Infinity War, but Cosmo could easily be in charge of an updated version of the space station, or even another key location in the Marvel Cosmic Universe.

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27 Comments

bobevanz - 10/12/2021, 8:49 AM

Lists are for BuzzFeed change my mind

THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 10/12/2021, 8:51 AM

You want the naked Silver guy in the hands of James Gunn?

Juggernaut2021 - 10/12/2021, 8:58 AM

Gladiator is my top pick there followed by Nova.
I love Hyperion but I think he and The Squadron Supreme would be ideal for a WHAT IF?

MrDandy - 10/12/2021, 9:11 AM

Guardians of the galaxy 3-8?? Really looking into the future of the franchise

PantherKing - 10/12/2021, 9:27 AM

Wackest list to ever grace CBM.com

PantherKing - 10/12/2021, 9:48 AM

@Waddles - there have been some many lists I can’t even remember anymore

cerrone6 - 10/12/2021, 9:30 AM

I want

SummersEssex - 10/12/2021, 9:41 AM

8. No.
7. Sure, I guess, as a minor side-character or something, but it's gonna feel shoe-horned in.
6. Why? Boring. Kind of fits in with the way they've portrayed Grandmaster and the Collector, so it would work, but.... meh.
5. Galactus comes in to the MCU to fight off the Celestials, so for this movie I HIGHLY doubt it.
4. GTFO here.
3. Yup. On this we agree. This should happen finally. Whether he's a main character or they are just introducing him, this one is a yes.
2. Meh, sure, I guess. Side character at best.
1. Sure, why not, but this is probably the "important character" Gunn was talking about introducing in the Christmas special.

Spike101 - 10/12/2021, 9:41 AM

Galactus maybe be an end credits item for the Eternals in some way I’ll guess, even if it’s only a quick glimpse. I think he and the surfer are going to be slow burn for a while as they are a tease that will keep fans debating for months if not years as to when they will finally arrive.

RitoRevolto - 10/12/2021, 9:44 AM

Guardians of the Galaxy may be the perfect movie to introduce or hint at the Shi'ar Empire until the MCU takes a deep dive in a future X-Men movie.

TheFinestSmack - 10/12/2021, 9:51 AM

Hey you guys! Remember when Josh made this nearly-same article like 7 years ago?!?
https://www.heyuguys.com/10-cosmic-characters-wed-like-see-blast-marvels-guardians-galaxy/10/

Origame - 10/12/2021, 9:52 AM

Why is it always "needs" to be in it? Do you think the movie will fail if they aren't in the movie? I mean, both the beyonder and galactus are big enough to carry their own films, if not trilogies. So I think at best we might just get one of those two. Does that mean the film is doomed to fail?

Also, you've done this kinda thing a lot and the list almost never pans out fully. Does that mean you think like every superhero movie with any kind of hype around it has failed.

Menks123 - 10/12/2021, 9:53 AM

Give me Moondragon, Hyperion, Nova and Cosmo, Beyonder.

Thank you Marvel.

Menks123 - 10/12/2021, 10:10 AM

@Waddles - Yessssssssss

FleischerSupes - 10/12/2021, 10:35 AM

Silver Surfer is a big deal. Hint at him, or even maybe a brief sneak cameo. He should be very menacing at this point.

kider2 - 10/12/2021, 10:38 AM

I misread the title as GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 3-8: Cosmic Characters We Need To See... And I was like huh they announced guardians parts 4 till 8?
Yes I am indeed an intellectual.

YonnyLayna - 10/12/2021, 5:00 PM

Hymperion and the Squadron Supreme Is something that they shouldn't waste for a one and done Evil Superman, Gladiador AND the Shir Ar I think fit Ethernals and Captain Marvel Better.

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GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 - 8 Cosmic Characters We Need To See Join Adam Warlock In The Threequel

Last night, news broke that Will Poulter will take on the role of Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Now, we're looking at the characters we hope to see join him in James Gunn's threequel...

8. Genis-Vell

7. Quasar

6. The Beyonder

5. Galactus (And The Silver Surfer)

4. Hyperion

3. Nova

2. Gladiator

1. Cosmo

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