Marvel fans received one of the most sensational revelations that Robert Downey Jr. will officially rejoin the franchise to play Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four. While this is still some time away, Giancarlo Esposito is meanwhile taking center stage with his debut in the franchise after playing memorable antagonists in The Boys, Breaking Bad, and The Mandalorian.
In the latest information confirmed by Kevin Feige and the actor himself, Esposito will play Seth Voelker, aka Sidewinder, in Captain America: Brave New World. Speaking of signing on to portray this formidable villain, the star revealed that it was a dream come true to be a part of the MCU and the Marvel franchise.
Giancarlo Esposito Is The Latest Marvel Villain To Watch Out For
There’s a lot on Marvel and Kevin Feige’s plate this year with regard to films and series in Phase 5. With Deadpool & Wolverine being the big release in July, fans are now looking forward to the next high-profile film from the MCU, which is Captain America: Brave New World. Anthony Mackie will take on the role for the first time on the big screen with Harrison Ford playing Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross.
Feige and the team have now given fans some exciting news about a key antagonist who will appear in the film. Over the last few months, there have been a lot of murmurs about Giancarlo Esposito possibly being involved in the franchise. This information was officially confirmed by the Breaking Bad star and the Marvel team during the San Diego Comic-Con (via Comic Book).
I am the king of the Serpent Society. I am Seth Voelker, Sidewinder.
In the Marvel universe, Sidewinder is the founder of The Serpent Society, an organization of snake-themed supervillains. The Society took on jobs for criminal outfits such as HYDRA, which led them to confrontations with Captain America and his allies.
Sidewinder was originally contracted by Roxxon Oil Company to retrieve an artifact called the Serpent Crown, which gave its wearer powers of immortality and the ability to influence minds. Voelker also came into possession of a cloak that gave him powers of teleportation. The character has a superlative level of intelligence and knowledge which sees him splitting from Roxxon to form The Serpent Society.
Speaking of his collaboration with the Marvel franchise and his upcoming antagonist role, Esposito expressed gratitude and excitement at being part of a universe that was on his bucket list for a long time. He was also thrilled that the manifestation of fans who wanted to see him in a Marvel role had come to fruition.
When your dreams come true, and you get the call, you walk through the door. I have a great deal of gratitude for all the fans who really had this dream come true, because fan casting has linked us together, and we started to talk. Everyone wanted me to be one thing or another thing. There’s been a lot of guessing going about who I really am.
It is safe to say that The Mandalorian star is a veteran in playing some unforgettable antagonists in his career thus far. With his entry into the MCU, viewers will be all geared up to witness what he does with this intriguing and formidable villain.
Looking Back at Giancarlo Esposito’s Process To Play Gustavo Fring
Marvel buffs will be lauding the franchise for casting Giancarlo Esposito to play Sidewinder in Captain America: Brave New World. Not only is the actor experienced in playing negative roles, but he is also someone who is known to put in a lot of research behind his characters.
The veteran ensured that he gave audiences nightmares with his performance as the terrifying villain Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. While his portrayal seemed seamless and effortless, a lot of planning and technique went into bringing this character to life, as the actor elaborated upon.
As part of his preparation, Esposito internalized the character and used innovative methods to make him more nuanced and believable. Recalling how he started with finding the right voice, Esposito laid down the details in an interview with Mr Feel Good and said,
I realized something about myself, that’s probably true for many others, that we’re uncomfortable with space so we fill it with a laugh, or whatever it is. I decided not to do that with Gus, and to fill that awkward space with a breath and an investigation. So I used that every day on the set, and my life changed.
The Better Call Saul star also embraced meditation and yoga, regularly practicing both on the sets of Breaking Bad, which helped him stay grounded and went a long way toward bringing the stillness that defined the character.
With the celebrity putting so much thought into creating his characters, Marvel fans will be expecting nothing short of an epic performance from Esposito in his newest gig as Sidewinder.
