Before becoming Superman, David Corenswet auditioned for the MCU’s Adam Warlock, which would have debuted a very different version of the cosmic hero.

The DCU’s new Superman actor, David Corenswet, has revealed that he originally auditioned to be Adam Warlock in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and this casting would have debuted a very different interpretation of the newest cosmic hero in the MCU. Best known for roles in House of Cards, The Politician, Hollywood and Pearl, David Corenswet was cast as the DCU’s Clark Kent, a.k.a. Superman, in June 2023. Corenswet will debut as the Man of Steel in 2025’s Superman reboot, but his superhero career almost started earlier, as he previously auditioned for a role in the MCU.

Shortly after filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran were hired as co-CEOs of DC Studios in November 2022, the pair set plans in motion to reboot the DCEU into the new DC Universe. Henry Cavill’s exit from the role of Superman was one of the studio’s first major decisions, as Gunn and Safran revealed that the iconic DC Comics character would be reinvented for the DCU. David Corenswet’s casting in June 2023 was confirmed alongside Rachel Brosnahan’s as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult’s as Lex Luthor, and others. However, David Corenswet first auditioned to became a powerful MCU hero, instead.

David Corenswet Auditioned For Adam Warlock Before Becoming Superman

Prior to working with James Gunn on the DCU’s Superman reboot, David Corenswet auditioned for the role of Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gunn’s final MCU project. During a recent exchange on Threads, James Gunn revealed that, while he didn’t remember Corenswet’s audition, the actor was adamant that he had vied for the cosmic MCU role. Rumors of Corenswet auditioning for Adam Warlock had been circulating for months, but Gunn has now provided confirmation. Of course, this role ultimately went to Will Poulter, who debuted as the new Guardians of the Galaxy member in Vol. 3.

Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock Is A Younger & More Juvenile Version Of The Hero

Back in January 2023, prior to the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn revealed more about Adam Warlock’s role in the MCU to Empire. Gunn noted that Will Poulter would portray the “infant form of [Adam] Warlock… he’s basically a baby.” This idea was solidified in the Phase 5 movie, as Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock was depicted at the very beginning of his journey, having been awoken from his birthing cocoon in the Sovereign too early, which meant that he didn’t have a good grasp of his true power or the full range of his abilities. He’s definitely not a good guy. What we’re seeing is the infant form of Warlock, newly out of the cocoon, and he does not understand life very well. He’s basically a baby.

This more juvenile iteration of Adam Warlock was vastly different from his Marvel Comics counterpart, who was depicted as more of a god-like and all-powerful cosmic being. Warlock being basically a baby was evident throughout Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, particularly due to his unusual relationship with his mother, High Priestess Ayesha, and the fact that he didn’t know his own strength, shown perfectly when he inadvertently murdered Ravager Fitz-Gibbonok. While this creates the opportunity for Adam Warlock to develop significantly in the MCU’s future, this would have been very different had David Corenswet been cast instead of Poulter.

David Corenswet’s Adam Warlock May Have Been More Comic-Accurate

While Will Poulter did a brilliant job at bringing the juvenile Adam Warlock into the MCU, David Corenswet’s version of the cosmic superhero perhaps would have been much more comic-accurate. Adam Warlock is one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful and formidable heroes, often depicted as having god-level power, and being seen as the pinnacle of human evolution. David Corenswet’s more domineering personality and posture would have been perfect at delivering this more experienced and steadfast version of the iconic hero, though this version of Adam Warlock may not have been the right tone for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

It was perhaps these strong qualities that made David Corenswet the perfect choice for the DCU’s Superman, especially since Superman and Adam Warlock could be seen as being equally powerful. There is still plenty of time for Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock to grow to become more closely-related to his Marvel Comics counterpart, despite Poulter not yet being confirmed to be returning to the MCU. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 introduced Adam Warlock at the beginning of his life, which was a better match for Will Poulter, while David Corenswet is set to become a formidable superhero of his own.