Home Entertainment Hugo Weaving isn't keen on becoming the Red Skull again

Hugo Weaving isn't keen on becoming the Red Skull again

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Despite being hit or miss with audiences, I rather enjoyed Captain America: The first Avenger last year. Chris Evans may have had the personality of a parliamentary debate within it, but all the other factors gelled nicely, with Hugo Weaving putting in a great performance as the Red Skull.

Bad things happened to the Skull at the end of that film, but as in all comic book movies, the chance for Weaving to return to antagonise the world around him, is always there. Except Weaving doesn’t exactly want to go through all that again.

You’d think that would be a problem for the actor, seeing as how he signed a multi-picture deal, but the man is smart enough to know when to honour his contracts.

As he said to Collider while promoting the upcoming Wachowski Starship directed Cloud Atlas;

I [signed a multi-picture deal] for Captain America. I think the tendency, with those films, would be to probably not bring a villain back. They might for The Avengers, but I didn’t think I’d be in Captain America 2 or 3. I don’t think Red Skull will be there. And it’s not something I would want to do again. I’m glad I did it.

I did sign up for a number of pictures and I suppose, contractually, I would be obliged to, if they forced me to, but they wouldn’t want to force someone to do it, if they didn’t want to. I think I’ve done my dash with that sort of film. It was good to do it and try it out, but to be honest, it’s not the sort of film I seek out and really am excited by.

As an actor, to do all sorts of different films is great. It stretches you in different ways. But, I increasingly like to go back to what I used to always do, which is to get involved with projects that I really have a personal affiliation with.

I’m not too phased by this truth be told. If Marvel wants to use the Red Skull again, then get a new actor to take over the part, because there’s nothing worse than a thespian who doesn’t bring any energy or enthusiasm to the role, something which can be seen on screen.

There’s plenty of big bads out there for years to come though, so I doubt we’ll be seeing Herr Skull pouting in a corner, and shouting NEIN whenever the director calls for some action.

Last Updated: October 16, 2012

4 Comments

  1. James Francis

    October 16, 2012 at 14:46

    Pity, considering he was the one thing that made that film watchable.

    Reply

    • DarthofZA

      October 16, 2012 at 16:13

      That and it was an awesome nod to Cap fans everywhere. I still rate the Captain America as one of my favourites from the first 6 films. The comic book fan inside of me couldn’t stop smiling the whole way through the movie!

      Reply

      • James Francis

        October 16, 2012 at 16:52

        I’m not familiar with the Captain’s rouge gallery, but other than resurrecting Hitler, did they have much choice but to use the Red Skull? The 1940s weren’t exactly bursting with arch-villains yet.

        Must add: I was amused that in the film Capt America didn’t really fight any Nazis at all, but instead helped them get rid of an annoying splinter faction…

        Reply

        • Kervyn Cloete

          October 17, 2012 at 10:10

          As much as I love the character of Cap, and the amazing stories that some writers have been able to tell with him, I will be the first to admit that he has a rubbish rogue’s gallery. Except for Red Skull, the Winter Soldier and Baron Zemo, all his enemies are pretty much crap. Even the major ones like Crossbones and Sin, who are just two nutjobs with guns, Arnim Zola looks like a Krang rip-off, only less cool, and don’t even get me started on Batroc the Leaper, whose ability is jumping real good. There are plenty others, but they’re not even worth mentioning.

          Wrt to the Nazi thing though, blame that squarely on merchandising. Disney wanted to sell action figures of even the enemies but refused to have anything branded with the swastika, so instead they made Red Skull suddenly a part of HYDRA, which in the comics had nothing to with each other.

          Reply

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