***YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.***
The scene was one of five credits scenes at the end of the sequel and it is the one scene that really sets things up for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 as well as Marvel Studios' future films after AVENGERS 4. But please note, both Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and writer / director James Gunn confirmed this scene does not set up AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR or AVENGERS 4, but it sets up the third Guardians movie and Marvel's expanding Cosmic Cinematic Universe — which I will now call Marvel's "CCU" moving forward, until told otherwise.
But let me get back to the point... who is Adam? In the comics, Adam was originally referred to as 'Him' and he first appeared in 1967 in 'Fantastic Four No. 66' and 'Fantastic Four No. 67' in a cocoon similar to what fans saw in the credits sequence. 'Him' eventually became the widely known hero Adam Warlock. Then, in 1972, 'Him' was reborn as the hero Adam Warlock in 'Marvel Premiere No. 1.'
The real reason Feige and Gunn had to confirm Adam Warlock will not be a part of, or set up, AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR or AVENGERS 4 was for comic readers to not think he would be a part of these two movies. In the comics, Adam is the one who defeats Thanos but this is not how it will play out in the next two Avengers movies. A sad change of a classic comic book story, sure, but bigger things seem to be in play for Adam once Marvel Studios moves past AVENGERS 4 and enters into their next long form storytelling arc spanning multiple films being set up in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. So yes, Adam Warlock is coming in Volume 3 and there's a good chance fans could see his more evil alter-ego Magus in the future, too.
Seeing Magus sooner than later would make sense if Gunn will be helping to oversee a large story arc Volume 3 sets up for Marvel Studios' growing CCU. Adam Warlock could go bad and become Magnus which would lead to a potential story arc of trying to stop Magnus while hoping to redeem him and reverting him to his more good guy self as Adam Warlock.
Lots of speculation above, but many are thinking along these lines right now. Marvel Studios is so great at setting up its future and this will definitely be a highly debated and talked about topic while Gunn is currently writing GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3.
Look for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 to release no earlier than 2020 or perhaps even a bit later.
Written by Daniel Wolf, DailySuperHero.com Founder & Publisher
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