One of the last interviews that we conducted was with Mads Mikkelsen who stars as Kaecilius in Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE, in theaters THIS FRIDAY, November 4, 2016.
Now, I have to be honest, this was the interview that I was least prepared for and rather nervous about. I know this will be shocking but I don’t really know a great deal about Mads career. I recall him in movies like King Arthur, The Three Musketeers, and I can’t wait to see him in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story BUT in our home, we spend most of our time watching Disney so I’m not up to date on his lead role in Hannibal. I’m sorry! I hear it is amazing!!
On the flip side, this guy was pretty intimidating in his role as Kaecilius. Don’t get me wrong, I loved him in the movie … but he was kinda scary. If only I could figure out how to do my makeup like his. Anyways, I digress.
I don’t know about you but I’ve never had the opportunity to sit down with a true “bad guy”; especially not one from a Marvel film. I knew the talk that we were about to have was going to be good but I had no idea what type of information we would glean from our time with Mads. And then, it was too late to think, the time was upon us. This extremely chill, relaxed guy walked in the door and it was time to get down to business. It was time to pick the brain of DOCTOR STRANGE’s villain, Mads Mikkelsen.
Photo Credit: As Mom Sees It
BEING TYPECAST AS A VILLAIN
Well, I am to a degree over here. But, if the alternative is not to work over here, I’ll take the villain. Luckily, I do a lot of different things back home in Europe, so, I’m not starving in the sense of, why am I always the villain? If it’s this kind of villain, I’ll take it any day.
TAPPING INTO BEING A VILLAIN
Well, it’s obviously it’s in the script somewhere. And you lean into the script. For me the script is always the most important tool and from there, I’ll develop the character with the director, of course.
Photo Credit: As Mom Sees It
HIS INFLUENCES FOR VILLAINOUS ROLES
Not to compare at all, but some of my favorite actors have been playing villains as well. Christopher Walken is a hero of mine, and I think he has the ability to somehow make the villains likeable.
Whether it’s his personality, or that he chose a part that was dualistic written so it makes sense, I don’t know. Some of the great actors can do that. The Joke is a fantastic example. We love to hate him, you know?
Photo Credit: As Mom Sees It
WHY HE WANTED THE ROLE
It’s Marvel. He was pitching on the phone the story, and then I remember, Scott said, “And it’s a lot of Kung Fu stuff, flying, but don’t worry, we got stunt guys for that.”
I was like, “Wow, hold, wow, wow, hold on, what’d you say?” “We’ve got st-.” “No, no, rewind back, Kung Fu, I’m on.” So, Marvel and flying Kung Fu, I was like, I think that could be a yes. I’ve always wanted to be Bruce Lee when I was a kid. I waited until I was 51 years old to be a slightly older version of him, just less good of course. But, it was fun. It was something I’ve always wanted to do when I was a kid.
THE FIRST TIME HE SAW HIMSELF IN COSTUME
It was fantastic. We went to do some of the tests, we were doing the makeup, and I insisted on bringing the costume and having it on, just to see how it looked together, and it was spot on. We were sitting in there for hours trying out this makeup, and I was like, “Oh god, do I really wanna do this every day?” But then it turned out so fantastic, I was like, “Yeah, that’s it. Three hours every day, we’ll do it. It’s worth it, really.”
Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE..Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen)..Photo Credit: Film Frame ..©2016 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
PREPARING FOR THE ROLE OF KAECILIUS
We had a lot of preparation, from the very beginning, with the stunt guys. We were taught some basic martial arts, some moves that will go again and again in the film. And having fairly small people teaching us bigger people to do things on the floor like that, we felt like clowns. But, I think we did our best and we went after it.
Photo Credit: As Mom Sees It
MOST CHALLENGING SCENE
There is a big fight scene with Benedict. I think we worked on that fight sequence for three weeks. And it’s not two hours it’s probably 8 or 10 hours fighting each other every day.
You hurt the next day, this is a big sequence, because, one thing is to do stunts. We can do that in a certain amount of time. But if you have things crashing, it takes time to set it up, and make sure there’s no risk, and everybody’s fine. It takes time. And if you mess up once, it takes three hours to rebuild it.
Photo Credit: As Mom Sees It
FAVORITE SCENE TO SHOOT
There were quite a few scenes that I loved shooting, but the great encounter I have with Benedict, which starts out with a long fight, and ends up with me making the speech that makes a lot of sense. He’s onto something. He has a point. I thought that was a brilliant sequence to do.
Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE..Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen)..Photo Credit: Jay Maidment..©2016 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
HAVING HIS NAME CEMENTED IN MARVEL AND STAR WARS HISTORY
It seems appropriate.
No, it feels fantastic. As someone who started out acting 20 years ago back home, a late starter, I never imagined that I would work in America at all, a little less that I would work in a Marvel film. It feels as if I’m a very fortunate person.
So, what do I think after sitting down with Mads? He’s still pretty intimidating but he’s really awesome. I can’t imagine the whirlwind that his life currently is, the steps that he has taken to get to this point, and he made history joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kaecilius at the age of 51.
See it all play out on the big screening at Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE!
Doctor Strange opens in theaters EVERYWHERE November 4, 2016.
Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE follows the story of the talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange, who, after a tragic card accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilizing a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
CONNECT WITH DOCTOR STRANGE
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Disclaimer: I was sent on an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles to cover the #DoctorStrangeEvent and #FindingDoryBluray Event with Disney/Pixar, Marvel, and Freeform. Regardless, all opinions expressed are still 100% my own.
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