Chukwudi Iwuji stars in the recently released Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as the High Evolutionary. Now, James Gunn has stated Iwuji is one of the best actors he’s ever gotten to work with.
What did James Gunn say about Chukwudi Iwuji?
Speaking to Variety for a recent profile on the actor, Gunn praised Iwuji. The director called him one of the best actors he’s ever worked with, alongside the likes of Viola Davis, Margot Robbie, and Benicio Del Toro.
“He was, along with Viola Davis and Margot Robbie and Benicio Del Toro and a few others, one of the best actors I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” Gunn said via email to Variety. “I had a feeling Chuk could bring something unique to the role.”
Gunn praised Iwuji’s ability to capture the “empathy and integrity” that it takes to portray Murn in Peacemaker.
“He was able to play an alien of extraordinary empathy and integrity who took over the body and memories of a sociopathic mercenary and was somehow able to convey all of those character aspects at once,” Gunn says. “His performance was nuanced and layered and unlike anyone else who auditioned.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is once again written and directed by James Gunn. MCU vets Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Sean Gunn, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel return to reprise their respective roles as Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Kraglin, Nebula, Mantis, Rocket, and Groot, while Maria Bakalova returns as Cosmo the Spacedog. The sequel also features the introduction of franchise newcomers Will Poulter and Chukwudi Iwuji, who portray the roles of Adam Warlock and High Evolutionary.
The space-traveling team was last seen in Marvel Studios’ Disney+ special presentation Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. In the holiday special, Drax and Mantis try to cheer up Peter by throwing him a Christmas party with his childhood idol, Kevin Bacon.