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HEATINGUPFROM A ROLE ON THE POPULAR TV SERIES THE FOLLOWING
TO A MUTANT ON THE HIT SUPERHERO FRANCHISE X-MEN, ADAN CANTO
BURNS HIS WAY ON TO THE BIG SCREEN
PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRYAN KONG CREATIVE DIRECTOR MELVIN CHAN STYLED BY JULIET VO WORDS BY JESSICA FANG
Adan Canto
Suit, vest and shirt
by GIORGIO ARMANI
OPPOSITE PAGE
Sweater by
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA

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GROWING UP, ADANCANTO NEVER THOUGHT HE
WOULD BEANACTOR. ANASPIRINGMUSICIAN
AND SINGERFROMMEXICO, HEFELL INTOACTING
BYCHANCEWHENAFRIENDENCOURAGEDHIM
TOJOINANACTING WORKSHOP. A FEW MEXICAN
TELEVISION SPOTS, INDEPENDENT FILMS AND
THEATREROLESLATERANDCANTOWASOFFERED
THEROLETHATWOULDBOOSTHISCAREERTO
HUGEPROPORTIONS INAMERICA, A ROLE ON
THE THRILLINGCRIME MYSTERY SERIES, THE
FOLLOWING. JUST ONE YEARHAS PASSED, AND
THE ACTORWILL APPEARALONGSIDETHE ALL-
STARENSEMBLE CAST OFPERHAPS THE MOST
ANTICIPATEDSUPERHEROBLOCKBUSTEROF THE
SEASON,X-MEN:DAYSOFFUTUREPAST.
ADAN CANTO
Suit and shirt by
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA

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“WHEN IT COMES TO SUPERHERO FAVOURITES, I WAS ALWAYS
AMUSED BY BATMAN: HIS LONELY, MYSTERIOUS WAYS AND HOW HE WAS
ABLE TO HAVE A HIGHER PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS”
ADAN CANTO
Jacket, trousers and shoes
by BOTTEGA VENETA

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Adans character, Sunspot comes marching in with perhaps the most
badass power of all, the ability to absorb solar energy, where we see him
combusting into flames and incinerating a monstrous Sentinel.
But behind all that fiery hands on combat, Adan tells August Man
Malaysia that if he were to be blessed with superpowers, he d much
rather have something closer to that of Professor X. It would have to
involve powers of the mind; seeing through people and understanding
everything, he says. And it s not surprising; Adan says he has always
enjoyed reading philosophy and psychology, where he applied it to
going in-depth with his characters. After experiencing it, there wasn t
anything that could top the thrill of adopting someone else s personality
in mind, he says.
It only seemed fitting that Adan was picked up for the role of a Joe
Carroll follower with a dark past, Paul Torres, in The Following, a show
about a psychotic serial killer with a cult following, Joe Carroll. For
his part in the series, Adan approached his character as a vulnerable,
passionate young man who is searching for a place in his life where
he can feel safe. He s a very complex character, Adan tells Collider,
explaining that the followers are driven to do evil because of their
passion and devotion. There s a lot of research you can do, but I mainly
stuck with psychology and his upbringing and the kinds of things he
lacked or that he wanted.
Adan soon took a completely different, lighter turn when he joined
the cast of Mixology, a comedy series that follows a group of men
and women who meet over the course of one night. Adan plays the
mysterious bartender who works at the bar the group happens to be at.
Not long after his gigs on Mixology and The Following wrapped, Adan
got picked up for his role as the mutant, Sunspot (a good mutant, in case
you were wondering).
In our interview with Adan Canto, we find out more about his role
in the latest X-Men film and a little more about the man behind the
fiery fighter.
AS HE STEPS INTO THE ROLE OF
COMIC BOOK MUTANT SUNSPOT,
ADAN CANTO GETS FIRED UP,
ALMOST LITERALLY, FOR THE ROLE.
THE TRAILERS FOR X-MEN: DAYS
OF FUTURE PAST HAVE BEEN MORE
THAN TITILLATING: NOT ONLY DO WE
GET A SEQUEL TO THE SUPPOSED
REBOOT OF THE FRANCHISE,
2011’S X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, THE
CHARACTERS FROM THE ORIGINAL
SERIES MAKE A COMEBACK IN AN
EPIC CLASH OF SUPERPOWERS.
Sweater and trousers by
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA
“I HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN A FAN OF
KEVIN BACON’S
WORK. CURIOUSLY
ENOUGH I HAD
WATCHED ALL
OF HBO’S ROME
ABOUT A YEAR
EARLIER AND
HAD THE CHANCE
TO SEE JAMES
PUREFOY’S WORK
AND INSTANTLY
BECAME A FAN”

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Shirt by GIORGIO
ARMANI; Trousers by
EMPORIO ARMANI
OPPOSITE PAGE
Suit, vest, shirt and shoes
by DOLCE & GABBANA
ADAN CANTO
“I HAD ALWAYS ENJOYED
READING PHILOSOPHY AND
SOME PSYCHOLOGY. ACTING
WAS THE IDEAL WAY TO
APPLY THAT KNOWLEDGE”

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Suit, vest and shirt by
DOLCE & GABBANA
ADAN CANTO
HowdidyougetinvolvedwithX-Men:DaysofFuturePast?
My team and I were tracking this movie down. I ve been a fan of the
franchise ever since it started back in 2000. And of course, working
with Bryan Singer was something I was definitely looking forward to.
I was shooting The Following in New York at the time and fortunately
the stars aligned and I was able to read for it on a trip back to L.A.
Thing s moved on pretty fast after that.
TellusaboutyourcharacterSunspot.
Sunspot was exactly the character I would ve wanted to play in a film
like this. He s fiery, extremely energetic and has a passion for justice.
When I learnt about his past and his burden of absorbing solar energy,
I couldn t wait to dive into his episodes in the comic books. After doing
that, it was easy to find his colours and understand his mind.
Howdidyoupreparefortherole?
I wanted him to be very agile, fast and lightweight. So I would go out
running in the morning and either swimming or biking at night.
I wanted to heighten my mind/body awareness.
Wereyoueverafanofcomicbooksorsuperheroesbeforethis?Didyouhaveafavourite?
When it comes to superhero favourites, I was always amused by Batman:
his lonely, mysterious ways and how he was able to have a higher
perspective on things̶a broader view of reality̶and then just dive
right into it and work for the bigger picture and the people of Gotham,
which was also his father s life work and legacy.
Ifyoucouldpossessanysuperpowerinreallife,whatwoulditbe?
It would have to involve powers of the mind; seeing through people and
understanding everything.
BeforethisyouwerebestknownforyourroleinTheFollowing.Whatdidyoulearn
fromtheexperienceofworkingontheseries?
I have always been a fan of Kevin Bacon s work. Curiously enough I had
watched all of HBO s Rome about a year earlier and had the chance to
see James Purefoy s work and instantly became a fan. So when I learnt I
was going to work with these two gentlemen, I felt extremely committed
to be at the top of my game. I was very excited to learn from them, and
of course, working with such an amazing team̶Marcos Siega, Kevin
Williamson̶it was truly a blessing.
Sofaryourroleshavebeenverydiverse,fromseriousdramatocomedy;whichdo
youprefer?
I have no favourite. Both are completely different trips, emotionally,
physically and psychologically. Although I do have to say that my
favourite kind of comedy is the most dramatic, the one that hits close
to home, the kind that makes you feel uncomfortable yet brings light to
the darkness in things.
Whatorwhoinspiresyouinyourcareer?
An overwhelming need to understand.
Howdidyoufirstgetintoacting?
I had always enjoyed reading philosophy and some psychology. Acting
was the ideal way to apply that knowledge. So after experiencing it,
there wasn t anything that could top the thrill of adopting someone
else s personality in mind.
What’sthemostimportantthingtoworkonwhenpreparingforarole?
Personally, it depends on the role. Sometimes I tackle them inside
out, sometimes outside in. But in the end I need to have a sense of
congruence with my character s thoughts, words and actions.
Tellussomethingaboutyourselfthatfansmaybesurprisedtohear.
I grew up herding cattle on horseback every other weekend at my
grandfather s ranch.
Whattakesupyourdown-timewhenyou’renotworking?
Road trips, family and friends, photography and making a fool of myself
when I go bowling with friends.
Empire featuring X-Men:
Days of Future Past cover with
Adan Canto as Sunspot

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNN CCCCCCCCCCCAAAAAAAANNNNNTO
Suit and shirt by
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA
OPPOSITE PAGE
Jacket and shirt by
JOHN VARVATOS
GROOMING BY CAROLA
GONZALEZ/THEMAGNET
AGENCYUSINGMURAD;
DIGITALIMAGINGSEBASTIAN
BAR; PHOTOGRAPHER
ASSISTANT WILLREID;
FASHION ASSISTANTS
JANEAMORETO&KIMLE;
SPECIAL THANKS TO EVAN
DUNING,THEDREAM
FACTORYLASTUDIO
“SUNSPOT WAS EXACTLY THE CHARACTER I WOULD’VE
WANTED TO PLAY IN A FILM LIKE THIS. HE’S FIERY, EXTREMELY ENERGETIC
AND HAS A PASSION FOR JUSTICE”
MAY2014 AUGUSTMAN 191