Martin Freeman is a celebrated actor, appearing in countless films and shows such as The World’s End, Sherlock, and Fargo. He’s even led the way in The Hobbit, Peter Jackson’s second trilogy based on the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. However, the star is ready to reprise one of his biggest roles when he returns as Everett K. Ross in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Freeman joined the MCU in 2016 with Captain America: Civil War before returning two years later for the first Black Panther installment. Now that the actor has three Marvel films under his belt, he feels he has an excellent grasp of who his character is. Freeman recently spoke with DigitalSpy, where he discussed how he became an ally to the nation of Wakanda and why his character wasn’t initially so black-and-white.

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“He’s the man on the outside. Because he’s working for one of the most… I would say the most powerful country in the world, except for Wakanda. In this world, I guess it’s along with Wakanda. I guess he’s a very useful ally to have in a country like America. He advocates for them, and I think that’s very useful for them. In those black-and-white terms, you’re not sure if he’s a goodie or a baddie. And he’s turned out to be a useful ally for [Wakanda] and I like that but he’s not touchy-feely. He’s not kind of cutesy. He’s pretty straight. But he’ll do what he can to sort of help the people he likes and loves.”

Martin Freeman Says It’s Not His Skin That Makes Him an Outsider

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Although Martin Freeman tells DigitalSpy he felt like an outsider in Wakanda; he realizes it’s because of his government position with the United States in the MCU. The heroes of Marvel and the powerful officials within the government have a long history together in the connected universe, as the Sokovia Accords and other regulations have helped and hindered the citizens living within the MCU.

During his interview, Freeman says his character’s intentions are always to protect his country. “He’s working for who some people regard as… you know, it’s the world’s only superpower, right? And any superpower doesn’t want to get its power challenged,” he explains. “Whether Ross was Black, white, or brown, he’d be within the heart of that. His main interest is to protect his own country.”

Freeman continues, “Clearly, he looks different. He doesn’t look like the rest of the cast of Black Panther but at the same time, I think it’s as much his nationality and his position in his government setup that makes him the outsider to Wakanda, and it makes him an unexpected ally, actually. Because I think it’s as much his race as his status within the world’s only superpower, regardless of what color he is.”

Fans can see Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Lake Bell, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Michaela Coel, and Tenoch Huerta alongside Freeman in the upcoming sequel. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is ready for release, arriving in theaters on Friday, Nov. 11.