In news that is sure to disappoint many fans of both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and their comic book counterpart, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 director James Gunn has all but put to bed the rumour that the perfect human being, Adam Warlock, will appear in the upcoming threequel.

Whilst answering an online Q&A, James Gunn was asked specifically about the character, and who we might see portray the golden haired adonis, "Who will play Adam Warlock in Guardians 3? It was then that Gunn gave his answer, and crushed the dreams of MCU fans across the globe.

"I never said Adam Warlock was in the movie."

It is an infuriating answer to say the least, very open to interpretation with a slight hint of passive aggressiveness lurking under the surface. What does this actually mean, Mr Gunn? Are you trying to keep the character's appearance a secret by throwing us off with your short, sharp response? Or is Adam Warlock in actual fact nowhere near being in the movie and you're trying to save us the disappointment of his absence? It is somehow very definitive and very flakey all at the same time, and thus rather frustrating.

Fans have been wondering for some time if and when Adam Warlock would be introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with each new movie having the potential to bring him into the fold. Adam Warlock made his first comic book appearance in the late 1960s, and yet has still not made his way onto the silver screen. The character played a major role in the Infinity War and Infinity Gauntlet comic books, leading many people to theorize that he would make a surprise appearance in Avengers: Infinity War or Avengers: Endgame. When he failed to fly in, defeat Thanos, and save the day, these theories reverted back to him making his debut in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, and with good reason.

Gunn has in fact teased the existence of Adam Warlock before, during the mid-credits scene for Guardians of the Galaxy 2. The scene lingers on a cocoon whilst Ayesha is speaking to the Sovereign Chambermaid, with many believing (and hoping) that the cocoon contains Warlock himself.

So far, we only know so much about Marvel's Phase 4 plans, but a lack of Adam Warlock would be a very unpleasant surprise for many. With the character having been teased before, and his comic book counterpart having ties with many of the MCU's staples including the Infinity Stones and Thor, as well as the cinematic universe's move towards the cosmic, his exclusion would be highly noticeable to those in the know. While Gunn's answer does not rule Adam Warlock out, the director is not usually one to steer fans in the wrong direction. So, do not hold your breath waiting to see the Silver age hero on the big screen when Guardians of the Galaxy 3 hits cinemas sometime in 2022. This news comes directly from James Gunn's Instagram.