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Danish star Mads Mikkelson has developed a reputation for excelling in unhinged characters on-screen. And why not, his very own debut in Hollywood depicted his most gruesome character to date. The actor turned heads with his impeccable performance as Hannibal Lecter in the 2013 horrors seriesHannibal.He earned massive recognition for the series, and has become a common face in most action features. Surprisingly, that was not his finest villains.
Way before he shot to stardom, Mikkelson made himself known with the one character that remains his best franchise villain portrayal till now. 1996’sPusherstarred Nicolas Winding Refn and Mads Mikkelson, both debutants playing best friends. However, the light somehow shined brighter on Mikkelson, coming off as his most deranged character.
Also Read:MCU Sidelines Robert Downey Jr. Campaign, Mads Mikkelsen as Doctor Doom Reportedly Happening Before Secret Wars
Mads Mikkelson hasn’t yet outdone himself
The 58-year-old actor recently impressed fans as the Nazi scientist Dr. Jürgen Voller inIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Another of his deranged characters, Dr. Voller makes one of the most powerful villains in the age-old adventure franchise. Prior to that, Mikkelson also made appearances as Dr. Doom in MCU, as the ruthless serial killer and psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter, and in the spy series,James Bondas Le Chiffre.
Although, the Danish actor really started his career with a bang. Even if not in terms of character development, Mikkelson’s appearance as Tonny was particularly spine-chilling.The Pusherfeatured Mikkelson with a shaved head adorned by a mighty ‘RESPECT’ tattoo on the backside. Thus, the comparison withHannibalreveals the grittiness of his appearance as Tonny.
Also Read:“If you don’t do this I’ll kill you”: Mads Mikkelsen Accepted Rihanna’s Most Iconic Video After an Ominous Threat from His Kids
What was The Pusher about?
The film unfolds around a drug deal gone wrong, forcing the street-level drug dealer to deal with the loss of a massive amount of heroin lost, in addition to paying the debts to the drug kingpin. The movie received critical acclaim, which encouraged its trilogy sequels,Pusher IIandPusher 3.Notably,The Pusherwas led by Kim Bodnia and notMad Mikkelson. Yet, the latter’s intensely-tattooed character dominated the screen over Bodnia’s.
As perCollider, the movie set in Denmark, emerged to be one of the first Danish gangster movies and was an immediate success with a rating of 7.3 onIMDb. Following this, the sequels hit theatres in 2004 and 2005, also making hits in the theatres. However, if one may have watched the movie, Mikkelson’s character is actually hiding behind his tattoos. Being part of the drug-dealing industry, Tonny was bound to compensate for his lack of street prowess with his gory look. This side of his character is eventually revealed after he miserably fails to show off a kick stunt.
Apart from wowing the audience with his deranged characters in Hollywood, Mikkelson also remains true to his Danish roots. He appeared inRiders of JusticeandThe Green Butchersto give back to th Dutch film industry that gave him the platform initially. Now, a well-known figure in Hollywood, fans tend to look forward to any thrilling characters he might be pursuing in the future.
Also Read:“Man, I’m too old for this”: Mads Mikkelsen Called Working With Nicholas Hoult a ‘Summer Camp’ as Compared to His Viking Movie That Pushed His Limits
Tiyasa Biswas
Articles Published :203
Tiyasa Biswas is a Content Writer at FandomWire. With more than a year of expertise in content spanning over multiple fields: entertainment, sports and features, Tiyasa seeks to bring her flair to the world of fandom. Her journalistic works have garnered significant viewership, with her articles gauging a worldwide audience.
