The movies have never seen a superhero like Bloodshot. Based on the bestselling comic book, Ray Garrison is an elite soldier recently killed in action, brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation. With an army of nanotechnology in his veins he’s an unstoppable force – the strongest warrior the corporation has ever created – and able to heal instantly. But in upgrading his body, the company is also manipulating his mind and memories. As he begins to remember his past life, Ray isn’t sure what’s real and what’s not – but he’s determined to take back control.

A superhero not just trying to get the bad guys, but trying to figure out if he can trust what’s in his own mind? That’s heavy stuff – and that was precisely the draw for Vin Diesel.

After creating unforgettable big-screen characters in such movies as the Fast and Furious series, xXx, and The Chronicles of Riddick, among many others – not to mention his vocal turns in The Iron Giant and Guardians of the Galaxy – Diesel was ready to sink his teeth into his first on-screen superhero role, and with Bloodshot, Diesel was drawn to the opportunity to create a character just as memorable.

Not to mention that bringing to life the most popular character in Valiant’s lineup provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With a wide readership of over 81 million comics sold, the Valiant books possess a diverse array of characters encompassing a wide variety of genres, tones, and demographic groups. Famed for presenting superheroes who are ordinary people in extraordinary situations, these heroes are complex characters that reflect contemporary society, politics, and diversity of the modern world.

In that way, Diesel says that Bloodshot is unique because while his powers are striking and fun to watch, it’s what’s going on inside that counts. “His mind has been controlled,” says the actor. “He’s a badass hero with unique abilities due to the nanites in his blood, but what’s fascinating about the character is that he’s motivated by something we’ve all been motivated by – the love he can’t forget. And what’s tragic about the character is how that love is manipulated into betrayal.”

For Diesel, a superhero exhibiting a real Achilles heel feels very grounded – and the actor says that the character’s heroic side is just as grounded. “If you ask guys in the military who their favorite comic book character is, it’s Bloodshot,” he notes. “Ray’s core values are the core values of anyone that’s ever served.”

Because of that, Diesel says, the audience feels a deep empathy for the character that is completely unique. “I’ve never seen a character like this – someone who can be focused exclusively on the mission, but you in the audience are feeling for him, because you know that the company is exploiting him. His motives are good, so you just want to see him get what he wants.”

And that feeling of being manipulated – the injustice of it – is something that maybe we can all relate to, Diesel says. “I feel that anyone can identify with feeling manipulated,” he says. “As we watch the news in our daily lives there are so many moments that we’re feeling force fed or being manipulated. I like the idea of a hero with powers whose real battle is against that.”

For Bloodshot director Dave Wilson, the character – a superhero augmented and evolved through technology and science – was also a chance to explore the intersection of technology with our daily lives. “Bloodshot is certainly a superhero, but his powers come from technology,” he notes. “In that way, it’s very grounded; we are all affected by – even controlled by – the tech around us. Or, I should say, technology gives us an illusion of control over our lives. There’s a great parallel there to the way Bloodshot is manipulated.”

Wilson points out that everything Bloodshot experiences might not be all that far off from reality – for better or worse. “Obviously we’re already seeing people with advanced prosthetics,” he says. “Right now, those prosthetics are still inferior to human limbs – but the day will come when they’re superior. You’ll be able to buy strength. What’s more terrifying is when you can buy intelligence, because we’ll be defined by what we can afford. There’s a term for it – ‘transhumanism’ – where we’re able to alter ourselves beyond the physical and neurological limits we’re born with. And those are some of the questions of the film.”

Ray has been turned into a super soldier by the RST Corporation, led by Dr. Harting, played by Guy Pearce. “From his point of view, everything he does is in service of some future battle,” says Diesel. “He’s not necessarily nefarious – he really believes he’s doing something worthwhile. I imagine anybody that sends people to war has a conscience and wonders if they’re doing the right thing, and I don’t think Harting is any different. But he is willing to put Ray’s stability at risk to create this effective weapon.”

Harting’s assistant – and another of his experiments, an ex-Marine with a life-threatening injury – is KT, played by Eiza Gonzalez. The actress says that the role required a complex balance. “KT is already starting to have misgivings about what they’re doing to Ray, but she’s at the mercy of Harting – he has control over the apparatus keeping her alive,” she says. Because of that – even as she starts to develop feelings for Ray – she can’t betray her true motivations. “It was really tricky – in every scene, I had to find an undertone within the scene that was the opposite of what was happening on the surface. I’d be playing a moment where I’m relaying pieces of information to Ray, but really, I’m bothered and hurt.”

Another part of Harting’s team – and another enhanced soldier – is Jimmy Dalton, aka Chainsaw. “He’s been given new legs and a new exoskeleton, a second set of arms that give him great power,” notes Outlander’s Sam Heughan, who plays the role. “He’s had a lot of work done – and he’s a piece of work. He’s ex-Navy SEAL, the best of the best, and he’s got an attitude. It’s nice to play something completely different.”

Moviegoers can follow Bloodshot’s journey to figure out what’s real and what’s just in his mind when the film is released in cinemas March 11th.