Chukwudi Iwuji is one of the few actors who get to say they’ve starred in both DC and Marvel adaptations. He burst into the superhero scene as ‘Clemson Murn’ in DC and HBO Max’s dark comedy series “Peacemaker”. Now, Chukwudi is making his debut in the Marvel Universe portraying ‘High Evolutionary’ in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”, releasing on May 5, 2023. Ahead, we chat with Chukwudi about the journey of his career that lead to this moment, and how he feels about taking on the big bad villain role.

What inspired you to pursue acting?
I can’t pinpoint one event. I just know that my earliest recollection of childhood games seemed to be me reenacting stuff I’d seen on TV. I was happy to play all the roles myself as I wandered off into the garden or front yard. They really stuck in my head, and I had no problem remembering the lines. I guess from the outside I must have looked like a pretty lonely, weird kid talking to himself in the garden.

When you first started acting, did you think you would play a part of such big superhero franchises?
No. Never imagined it. When I started acting professionally, superhero movies more often than not ranged from pretty forgettable to complete disasters. The only exception up to that point really being the first two Christopher Reeve. What a classy actor in the Superman movies, and later the brilliant Tim Burton Batman films with Michael Keaton. So, the mere concept of superhero movies becoming a driving force in the industry was just not out there. Then came Nolan’s Batman, and of course Iron Man and Boom! But even then, I always thought the closest I would come to them would be watching them in IMAX. It was a bit like James Bond. You go every couple of years to see the new one and to lose yourself in the ultimate thrill ride. I never imagined I would ever be in one. I was simply a fan of them. They belonged to the superstars, and new discoveries coming up the ranks, not to a jobbing actor like me.

**Left:**
Grey suit with turtleneck by Tods in Beverly Hills
**Right:**
Outfit by Merge Co. out of Atlanta
Shoes from Eclozet

Since you have a background in Shakespeare, how has that helped you in acting for your current roles?
Shakespeare is all about character. Acting for me is the character. The craft is looking at words on a page and handing the baton to your imagination. Your imagination then goes off and does what it does, and your years of homing your craft i.e., your voice, your body, the superhighway between head and heart, intellect and emotion facilitate your imagination’s journey. It’s all about working on that craft, which doing eight shows a week, sometimes playing three different roles in rep, helped me develop over the years.

How did it feel when you got the role for High Evolutionary?
When James called me on that Tuesday morning (yes I remember it vividly) in Vancouver to say I got the role, I went pretty numb at first. I might have flubbed some words of gratitude. Then after hanging up, I sort of stared into space, and remembered feeling like my trunk was just filling up with air. This was the tension releasing from the last six or seven weeks since James first told me that he wanted me to play the role, and actually do the screen test and then hearing. Then I did a gratitude practice right there in the kitchen, cause the most overwhelming feeling was one of gratitude. Like we touched on earlier, this was never in the cards for me. Then I called my wife, because she is always the first one I call. As I started calling my family and team, I realized that I was observing their reactions from outside of it all. A bit like a parent watching your kids open their Christmas gifts, and the joy it brings you when they are delighted with it. I realized that aside from the relief of booking it as it were, the biggest pay off is the joy it gave and continues to give those who love me and have my best interests in mind. This was a big win for everyone in my orbit. And that more than anything, gave me the most joy.

How was it acting with such loved characters and actors in the industry?
I was a little nervous on the first day. How could I not be? I had only seen these guys on the big screen except for Karen whom I had done a couple of Dr. Who episodes back in the day) but, honestly that wore off quickly because EVERYONE was so welcoming and warm, and, you know, normal. It all trickles down from the top. James runs a kind, funny, creative, and welcoming ship. Also, there was a sense right from the start that this was going to be a really special film. I know people say that all the time, but honestly it did. I also felt that James had given me a huge responsibility in this, the conclusion of an amazing journey, so I was ready to get to work and repay that faith. James won’t say this, but he took a massive gamble on me. Not, I hope, as far as my ability to do the job, but by casting me-- a relative unknown in such a part.

**Left:**
Outfit by Merge Co. out of Atlanta
Shoes from Eclozet
**Right:**
The green sweater and pants by Ted Baker

What was it like preparing for such a big and crazy villain?
I mentioned earlier, craft. In a weird way, you can say that I had been preparing for this role for 20 years because I approached it exactly the same way as every other role. I drilled the lines hundreds of times. I let my imagination loose. I listened to a lot of classical music while taking long walks. I worked with a Pilates instructor on a reformer to get my back aligned and core strong because the High Evolutionary is extremely regal and moves in that way) Then I read and reread the script several times. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, I just wanted to enjoy, imagine, and visualize the world. Then I turned up to work excited to be directed, to have my ideas reshaped by what the other actor or the set designer or James threw at me. That, in a nutshell, was my process.

How did you take this role as the villain and turn it into your own?
Essentially when presented with a role you immediately start thinking of it in terms of you. I don’t subscribe to the ‘transformational’ stuff. You are always going to be the role; you don’t become someone else. This is my version of the High Evolutionary. Another actor would do his version and so forth. As I mentioned before, I had to make it interesting and fun to play, so I latched on to the things I most loved about him: his intelligence, his arrogance, his wit, his single mindedness, his narcissism. These might not be qualities I admire as a person, but they are bloody fun to play. I sent James a playlist of my favorite arias, and a few concertos, because I felt that the High Evolutionary’s story was operatic in scope. Out of that came the overall grandeur and tragedy of the character. I also, funnily enough went back to Shakespeare’s King Henry IV whose desperation to sleep, and the weight of responsibility was, in my mind similar to the unrelenting quest of the High Evolutionary’s “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.”

How different was it playing a DC character compared to a Marvel one?
I don’t believe there is a general difference. The process is the same. You do your homework, and you come to work ready to play.

Outfit by Merge Co. out of Atlanta
Shoes from Eclozet

Do you have a favorite superhero/villain?
I’m a huge fan of Daredevil. Loved the comics so much growing up. I remember as a kid getting so invested in him, and getting pissed off every time Elektra screwed him over. The epic fights with King Pin were great. I like what Charlie has done with it. Further, Vincent is extraordinary in the role of King Pin. As far as villains go, the Joker is absolutely delicious.

Is there any DC or Marvel character that you would be dying to play?
There is quite an obscure character called The Demon Etrigon, who is trapped inside an Occultist called Jason Blood. Jason was a Knight during Arthur’s days and has lived thousands of years with the curse of this Demon locked inside him by Merlin the Magician. He is tragic, powerful, violent, epic, sexy. I’d like to have a go at him. He’s kind of like Bruce Banner but thousands of years old, and even more complicated.

What do you do outside of acting that helps you take your mind off these intense roles?
Reading, mainly fiction. Playing the piano. Long walks with my wife and dog. Cooking. Been brushing up on my French and Spanish, and I want to learn Italian. I meditate most mornings, and I have a somewhat decent yoga practice.

What more can we expect from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise?
More laughter, tears, action, incredible visuals, great music, and bags full of humanity.

In what can we look forward to seeing you in the future?
I’m just wrapping up a cool show on Paramount+ called “Evil;” you might have heard of it. It comes out soon. Also, I’m going to play James Baldwin in a project we’ve been developing for a while now. As for the rest, we shall see.

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Photographer: Laretta Houston
Talent: Chukwudi Iwuji
Fashion Stylist: Lisa Smedley-Calderon
Groomer: Danielle Mitchell
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Associate Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Angie Hines, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine