It seems that British actors this side of the Atlantic are pretty good at playing the villain. Whether it’s Ralph Fiennes inhabiting Harry Potter's iconic adversary Lord Voldemort or Alan Rickman perfectly playing Hans Gruber in Die Hard, cinema has a long history of casting British actors to play villainous characters, and there are even more examples of movie franchises where great Brit stars were able to take on antagonistic roles.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe, for example, is awash with British stars. There are certainly more good guys than bad guys with actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Holland enjoying their heroic roles as Doctor Strange and Spider-Man, respectively. But which British stars would make the best villains if certain parts in the MCU were recast?
Thanos: Tom Hardy
Thanks to his antics in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, the main villain in the MCU has got to be Thanos. However, though his ultimate goal was to snap away half of all living things in the universe (which he succeeded at), he is unlike many other villains. There’s an almost calm quietness about him. He’s not out for power and glory; he wants to change the universe for the better in many ways. Josh Brolin's performance brings a lot of gravitas to that character.
With that being said, Thanos is a role that could be perfect fodder for Tom Hardy. He’s an astute British actor who welcomes physical roles, and he can show a great deal of menace and emotion in the same moment.
Hela: Kate Beckinsale
Cate Blanchett was an inspired piece of casting to play Thor and Loki’s estranged sister in Thor: Ragnorak. Blanchett provided a wonderful mix of malevolence and megalomaniacal intent, garnished with a hint of sexiness and mischief.
There’s only one actress who could potentially be the ideal replacement for Blanchett in the role, and that is Underworld star Kate Beckinsale. She can bring a well-balanced level of humor and lunacy to the part whilst also looking great in the action sequences.
Quentin Beck/Mysterio: Jamie Bell
In Spider-Man: Far From Home, former Stark employee Quentin Beck used drones and hologram technology to seek revenge on a world that had left him unappreciated. Jake Gyllenhaal donned the helmet of his fictional supervillain Mysterio and showed Spider-Man and everyone just what he was capable of.
For the first half of the film, Gyllenhaal had to convince both Peter Parker and audiences that he was the good guy. When the reveal comes, it’s an effortless transition into the more sinister, revenge-filled side of Beck viewers had not yet witnessed. It seems that British star Jamie Bell could play this “mysterious” character well. Sure, he did star as Ben Grimm in the ill-fated Fantastic Four reboot in 2015, but he is very good at portraying characters whose true intentions are not always overly clear, as recently seen in Without Remorse.
Ego the Living Planet: Gary Oldman
Casting Kurt Russell as Star-Lord’s estranged father was a good move for the MCU. He was a great selection to play the father of Chris Pratt's Peter Quill, as Russell and Pratt’s had a satisfyingly similar sense of humor. However, the character of Ego soon turns out to be more unhinged than we’re led to believe, and the British star that would be right at home portraying a megalomaniac like this would be Gary Oldman.
Gary Oldman has given some tremendous performances over the years, each of which is vastly different from the next, showcasing his staggering his range. He is often remembered for some of his more maniacal roles such as his turn as the deranged DEA agent Stansfield in Luc Besson's Léon: The Professional and his memorable cameo as the villainous Drexl Spivey in Tony Scott's True Romance.
Grandmaster: Sacha Baron Cohen
Thor: Ragnorak shook up the Thor franchise and took a much more light-hearted and comedic tone, which wasn’t to everyone’s taste. However, it did introduce us to The Grandmaster, who was largely well-received. It’s a villainous role, but one which is adeptly handled and acted by the very natural performer Jeff Goldblum. It’s a portrayal that takes what we expect from an on-screen villain and turns it on its head.
In a line-up of British comedic talent, who would be best to don the golden cloak? Who could create some memorable moments and fully embody the eccentricity of The Grandmaster? Surely it has to be the multitalented Sacha Baron Cohen. Fresh off his long-awaited Borat sequel and well-deserved Oscar nod for The Trial of the Chicago 7, we have seen just how talented and capable Cohen can be.
Alexander Pierce: Tom Wilkinson
Undercover HYDRA agent Alexander Pierce spent years working within the US government, the World Security Council, and of course, S.H.I.E.L.D. He had managed to infiltrate and gain the respect of his colleagues for decades and worked his way into a position of power to help HYDRA take over the world. Legendary star Robert Redford took on the role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and was able to expertly portray both sides of the character.
Selma star Tom Wilkinson could easily be welcomed in place of Redford. The talented actor would handle the governmental type very well and play on the manipulative nature and overall ruthlessness that Pierce possesses.
Doctor Samuel Sterns/The Leader: Simon Pegg
Dr. Samuel Sterns first appeared in 2008's The Incredible Hulk as he helped to cure Bruce Banner's condition. However, a wound on Sterns' head was infected by Banner's blood, which led to a mutation of his mental abilities and an increasing level of madness. Before they had developed, he was placed in custody and not seen again. Tim Blake Nelson starred as Sterns back in 2008 and his portrayal of this eccentric genius was spot on.
British star Simon Pegg would be more than capable of filling the boots of Sterns in a recast sure to offer the same level of geeky enthusiasm and misplaced eccentricities we have come to expect from certain roles he has played in the past.
Justin Hammer: Paddy Considine
He was confident, opportunistic, and ruthless when it came to trying to better Stark Industries but Justin Hammer’s efforts in Iron Man 2 were all for naught. Still, it was entertaining to see his egomaniacal nature bought to life on the big screen thanks to a widely praised performance by the always brilliant Sam Rockwell, who was perfect for the role.
If for any reason a Hammer recasting was necessary then the best man for the job would surely be Paddy Considine. Considine is perfectly capable of playing unhinged characters that have a welcome level of humor and other eccentricities in films like Hot Fuzz and The World's End.
Adrian Toomes/Vulture (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
Equipped with his stolen Chitauri tech, Adrian Toomes (A.K.A. Vulture) turned his hand to crime after being left to fend for himself when Tony Stark's Damage Control was set up to help clean up and salvage artifacts from the mess created by the Battle of New York, putting Toomes out of a job. Stark indirectly cost Michael Keaton's Toomes his livelihood and inadvertently created a new supervillain.
Keaton was certainly a great choice and was able to effortlessly handle the ever-shifting attitude of Toomes as he struggled with his actions and fought with the honorable man he truly was. Who better to take on a character like this from New York? House star Hugh Laurie would be a great fit. Aside from the similar age range and build, Laurie is a master at American accents and playing complex characters.
Erik Killmonger (Black Panther)
The much-praised Michael B. Jordan put in an excellent performance in 2018’s huge Marvel hit Black Panther. Jordan played the incredibly dislikeable N'Jadaka (A.K.A. Erik Killmonger), the ex-United States Navy SEAL who was intent on winning the throne from his cousin T'Challa (Black Panther) and doing whatever it took to get what he wanted.
So which British star would best fill the boots of this Wakandan villain? Best known for his role as Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, British star John Boyega has certainly earned his acting chops. He’s very comfortable starring in big blockbusters, and he'd be more than capable of taking on such an unscrupulous role.