The Draw of the Supervillain

For every superhero in a story, there is always a villain. Whether it’s ending the human race, creating untameable beasts of nature, or becoming a criminal mastermind, the various schemes of villains often drive the narrative and bring out the ‘super’ in our heroes. To celebrate the home entertainment release of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD from 5th June, we take a look back at some of the most iconic DC villains in film and the actors that have embodied them.

Tom Hardy as ‘Bane’ in The Dark Knight Rises

Even with his face being covered by an elaborate mask, Tom Hardy still manages to give a captivating performance as Bane in the final instalment of one of the most highly acclaimed film trilogies of all time; Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight series.

Bane is considered to be Batman’s most powerful antagonist, both in his physical abilities and menacing psychological nature. To embody this strength on screen, Hardy went through a complete physical transformation, shaving his head, gaining a large amount of weight, and training excessively to build the imposing silhouette that stands between Batman and the safety of Gotham.

Hardy’s voice also serves to create a depth to Bane that could not be portrayed through facial expressions due to his face being obscured by Bane’s iconic mask. Hardy said that he used the voice of Romani Gypsy bare knuckle fighter Bartley Gorman as inspiration, as he was conscious of Bane’s origin story; someone who spent his adolescence in prison, using physical dominance to survive.

Danny DeVito as ‘Penguin’ in Batman Returns

Present in the earliest iterations of the Batman Comics, Penguin is originally portrayed as a crooked businessman who controls the mobsters in Gotham. However, in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, Danny De Vito plays a darker, more disturbed villain who is obsessed by his own public image, and tearing down the reputation of Batman.

After being abandoned in the sewers by his parents, ‘Oswald’ is adopted by the penguins at the derelict Gotham Zoo. DeVito is able to embody the physical resemblance of a penguin through facial prosthetics and a weighted suit that changed the outline of his body. DeVito created his characterisation of Penguin through this appearance, drawing on the physical deformities of the character when constructing the growling voice and the laboured movements.

In more recent interviews about his role, De Vito claims that his portrayal of the Penguin is the most iconic, conveying his fascination with the unique spin that Burton had placed on the character.

Michael Shannon as ‘General Zod’ in Man of Steel

MAN OF STEEL (2013)
Michael Shannon (General Zod)
for SUMMER MOVIE PREVIEW

“Every action I take, no matter how violent or cruel, is for the greater good of my people” rasps Michael Shannon in the final battle between him and Henry Cavill’s Superman in Man of Steel. The film follows the life of Superman (AKA Clark Kent) as he is sent to Earth as the last surviving biological Kryptonian before the planet is destroyed. The former Military general, Zod, is banished for attempting to take over the planet before it’s demise, but he escapes his prison and is eager to use Earth to build a new Krypton.

Michael Shannon suggested that General Zod’s villain status was a matter of perspective, and that through his devotion to restoring Krypton to its former glory, Shannon found a sense of redemption in his character. He was able to understand the sense of failure that Zod felt in being unable to protect Krypton, and channelled this inner conflict into the role to create a depth we often do not see in a typical villain.

We will see him return as Zod in The Flash movie.

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Anne Hathaway as ‘Catwoman’ in The Dark Knight Rises

When it was announced that Anne Hathaway was putting on the catsuit for The Dark Knight Rises, there was an overwhelming amount of criticism that she wasn’t the right fit for the role, and that production had made the wrong choice by casting her. However, once the film was released, Hathaway’s Cat Woman became a venerated interpretation of the character.

The dichotomy between heroine and villain envelops Hathaway’s portrayal, beginning the film as an associate of Tom Hardy’s Bane, but she is the one to shoot Batman’s biggest enemy in the closing battle. Hathaway spoke of her desire to perform as many of the stunts herself as she could, and her training was focused on developing the strength and flexibility to move and fight as Cat Woman. Hathaway was able to complete almost every stunt (including the iconic backflip from a window of the Wayne mansion) herself, executing meticulous combat scenes in stiletto heels!

Heath Ledger as ‘Joker’ in The Dark Knight

No list would be complete without Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker, which is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and memorable performances in cinematic history. Ledger brought a whole new level of darkness and chaos to the character, redefining the way audiences perceive the Joker. His portrayal was chilling, intense, and absolutely captivating.

Ledger’s interpretation of the Joker was a departure from previous versions of the character. He took the Clown Prince of Crime and transformed him into a truly menacing and unpredictable force. From the first moment he appeared on screen, Ledger’s Joker exuded an aura of madness, with his disheveled green hair, smudged makeup, and haunting scars. His physical appearance perfectly matched the chaotic nature of the character.

What set Ledger’s performance apart was his meticulous attention to detail. He fully immersed himself in the role, studying the psychology of a psychopath and incorporating it into his portrayal. His voice, mannerisms, and facial expressions were all carefully crafted to convey the Joker’s twisted mind. The result was a performance that felt unnerving and authentic, with Ledger disappearing completely into the role.

Ledger’s Joker was a true agent of chaos, driven by a desire to disrupt order and expose the flaws of society. He had no grand plan or ulterior motive, which made him even more terrifying. He simply wanted to watch the world burn, reveling in the chaos he created. Ledger’s ability to capture the Joker’s nihilistic worldview was remarkable, leaving audiences both captivated and disturbed.

Heath Ledger’s tragic and untimely death shortly before the film’s release added a poignant layer of sadness to his portrayal. It became a testament to his immense talent and dedication as an actor. Ledger’s Joker will forever remain a testament to his commitment, creativity, and the power of his performance. His portrayal left an indelible mark on the superhero genre and will be remembered as one of the greatest interpretations of a villain in cinematic history.

Helen Mirren as ‘Hespera’, Lucy Liu as ‘Kalypso’ and Rachel Zegler as ‘Anthea’ in Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Inspired by Greek mythology, Hespera, Kalypso and Athena are the central antagonists to the ‘Shazamily’ in Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Seeking revenge for the death of their father, Atlas, the sisters wish to restore the realm that the human race took from them by using the unadulterated power of the Wizard’s staff. However, the three villains are not all united in their pursuits; Hespera and Athena wish only to bring back their realm, but Kalypso has more sinister intentions to destroy Earth in its entirety.

Helen, Lucy and Rachel bonded instantly on set, which cultivated the intense, tumultuous relationship that the sisters have on screen. Developing the strong powerful sisterhood that both unites and divides the villains was continued off camera, with the actresses speaking of the joy they had in working closely with each other, and Lucy Liu comparing the air of female solidarity to that on the set of Kill Bill.

The costumes also played an essential role for Mirren, Liu and Zegler to adopt the authenticity of the goddesses, and although extremely heavy (according to Mirren), they represented the ancient power and prestige of the sisters, which the actresses embodied effortlessly on screen.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods will be available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD from 5^th June.