It's been too long since a new Marvel movie has hit theaters. I know that it's September and Captain America: Civil War just came out in May, but I still say that's too long. I want a new Marvel movie every month, darn it! But since that's not happening (yet), I'll have to make due with Doctor Strange, which arrives in cinemas on Nov. 4. The movie looks amazing, from its visuals to its story to its cast, but what I'm most excited about is the antagonist, because the Doctor Strange villain might be one of Marvel's best yet.
The villain of the film is Kaecilius, a relatively minor character from the comics who is a follower of Strange's archenemy, Baron Mordo. Kaecilius is a practioner of the mystic arts, much like Strange and Mordo, and he's being portrayed in the film by Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen. Doctor Strange will be opening up the mystical realm of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, offering a whole new set of threats to go along with the existing technological, alien, and superpowered beings that currently populate the movies. And chief among those new threats is Kaecilius. So check out these 11 reasons why I'm looking forward to the villain in Doctor Strange.
1. Mads Mikkelsen
Mikkelsen is the best portrayer of villains in Hollywood today, in my opinion. From Le Chiffre in Casino Royale to Dr. Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal, Mikkelsen always gives a riveting performance; often resulting in characters more interesting than the protagonists fans are meant to root for.
2. He's Layered
Kaecilius isn't just going to be some evil megalomaniac bent on destruction, but a complex character with a legitimate point of view. "He's not a villain in that way – he's a man who believes in something else than the hero," Mikkelsen told Ryan Leston of Yahoo! Movies. "That doesn't mean that he doesn't want to make the planet look wonderful or he wants to save the world as well, but he has a different way of doing it. He is the antagonist, of course, but he’s not necessarily wrong."
3. Marvel Has Free Reign
Because the character is so obscure, Marvel can make whatever changes to him that they see fit, without risking alienating longtime fans (see: The Mandarin in Iron Man 3).
4. His Design
On a strictly superficial level, I really dig the character's look. The makeup around the eyes is really cool, and looking badass is half the battle for a villain.
5. There's Little Competition
If I'm being honest, Marvel movies aren't known for their great villains. With the exception of Loki and a couple of others, most are completely disposable and forgettable, so really it won't take much for Kaecilius to reach the upper echelon.
6. He Knows Magic
Based on the trailer and what's been revealed about the film, Kaecilius is going to have some really awesome, trippy powers that should earn him legions of fans.
7. His Followers
Most superhero movie villains have some kind of henchmen, but they're generally not all that compelling. By contrast, Kaecilius has the Zealots, religious fanatics who follow him like he's their savior. Now that's interesting.
8. He's Strange's Opposite
Most villain/hero differences come down to good versus evil, but not in this movie. Kaecilius simply disagrees with Stephen Strange about how the world should be, and their philosophical differences should make for a great rivalry.
9. His Goal
Kaecilius wants to literally reshape the world. Sure beats robbing a bank for a villainous deed.
10. He Might Affect Strange On A Personal Level
In the comics, Kaecilius and Mordo were allies. The movie has pitched Mordo as a hero, but no one really expects him to stay that way. So will Kaecilius corrupt Mordo in the movie and turn him against Strange? That would certainly be a way to cement himself as a memorable villain.
11. His Ponytail
All bad guys should have a ponytail. It's just better this way.
I think Kaecilius in Doctor Strange has massive potential to be a great villain, and hopefully he will pose a real threat to the MCU as a whole throughout Phase Three.
Images: Walt Disney Pictures; Giphy
