Will Poulter has explained how he managed to get so jacked for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, having followed a strict regime in the lead-up to the role.
Poulter, 30, starred in the Marvel film as Adam Warlock, a character who is genetically engineered as the perfect being. How’s that for pressure?
It’s no doubt a gig that proves to be something of a double-edged sword - on the one hand, you’d be flattered that movie execs felt you had it in you to portray such a powerful superhero, while on the other, you’d suddenly get the grim realization that it’s time to hit the gym.
Thankfully, Poulter had a little time to play with, as the audition process took several months.
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“[Writer-director] James [Gunn] had a very clear vision of what he wanted, and I was grateful that my interpretation happened to eventually line up with his over the course of my auditions,” he told Inverse.
“I definitely didn't get it right initially, but with James’ notes and brilliant direction, I think I eventually got there.”
As part of the lengthy process to get him where he needed to be, Poulter said there were a number of people involved in whipping him into shape - also stressing that he never faced any pressure from Gunn or Marvel to do so.
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Speaking to GQ a few months back, he explained: “By the point I auditioned for Guardians, I was more than halfway there, as far as where I ended up.
“I had established some foundations for any kind of body transformation. I'd also been training consistently with Dr Ben Carraway, the guy who designed my whole programme.
“Between him, Aaron Deere, who was my nutritionist, and another trainer, Darrell Richards, I was fortunate to have three guys to help me maximise my natural potential. And do it in a way that was safe and that didn't damage my physical or mental health.
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“I was never encouraged by anyone to go about it any other way and Marvel certainly never put any pressure on me.”
When asked if he found it ‘difficult’ to ‘get into that kind of shape’, Poulter added: “All I know is I worked as hard as I could, safely and naturally, to conceivably pass as a superhero. If that isn't enough for people, fair enough, but I'm not prepared to compromise on the way that I went about it.
“I can't be an advocate for mental health and simultaneously be promoting anything other than responsible and natural bodybuilding.
“I wouldn't want anyone to feel like I'm suggesting there is a body type that is better than anybody else's body type.”
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe
Jess Hardiman