Villains Who Deserve Origin Films

“They paint me as a villain, I just autograph the artwork.” - Lil Wayne

MALEFICIENT, Wicked, JOKER, Cobra Kai, REVENGE OF THE SITH, Wide Sargasso Sea, and most recently CRUELLA have all provided some sort of ‘origin’ story for characters that have traditionally been cast as villains. Origin stories isn’t a totally fair description, most of them are revisionist apologias that explain how conditions forced these characters into making poor choices or crossing a line into become the antagonist in another story. Most of these movies are met with derision and eye-rolling (and apparently Oscars for some reason), because demystifying certain figures doesn’t really add to any story. That’s partially due to the quality of the works themselves but also there’s often very little unknown about the motives. Here are some cinematic bad guys that would shine in their own ‘origin films’ as they chart a rise to power and a true turn to darkness.

Duke Of New York

(ESCAPE FROM NY)

How an inmate (or perhaps simply some left behind those prison walls) was able to conquer a whole island full of criminals, mutants, and more would be an interesting and possibly gruesome story. While lofty comparisons, it could be a mix between THE GODFATHER PART II and CITY OF GOD but featuring more gladiatorial fights and cars with chandeliers on them.

Cristal Connors

(SHOWGIRLS)

While some of Cristal’s background is divulged in dialogue (eating dog food, taking out the previous star at Stardust, etc.), it would be a cool to show a cyclical of how the industry preys on insecurities and needs, incentivizes competition, and discards those who are no longer needed. It would also be a compelling profile to show a woman come into her own in terms of confidence and mastery of a scene.

Mr. Han

(ENTER THE DRAGON)

All that is known about Han is a) he’s a heroin drug lord, 2) he runs a martial arts school, iii) he owns an island apparently, fourth) he’s missing a hand and has lots of accessories to use instead.

A combination of THE GRANDMASTER, Johnnie To’s ELECTION, and just a bunch of batshit fighting and manipulation could make for a great entry into a a new form of exploitation filmmaking.

Vernita Green

(KILL BILL: PARTS 1 & 2)

Vernita is the only member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad that doesn’t get much of a background. O-Ren Ishii has an extended animated sequence and monologue, Budd’s life is pretty well sketched out especially when connected to his brother Bill, Elle’s issues with Pai Mei, etc. Why was she recruited? What were her specialties? Also this could be a bifurcated tale where her rise is mirrored with her daughter Nikkia’s quest for training and vengeance.

Hans Gruber

(DIE HARD)

The best part of Hans Gruber’s background is that his motives are fairly ambiguous. He’s a master thief, very intelligent, posh, and FBI thinks he’s a terrorist. But does he actually have any ideals? How did he come up in society to get such nice suits? From whence did he gather his multi-national crew? A sort of LAYER CAKE/KINGSMAN-style grooming into becoming a gentleman villain who wishes to rob the world for everything he can.

Persephone

(MATRIX RELOADED/REVOLUTIONS)

Persephone’s story seems like a tragic one as she falls in with The Merovingian as a couple despite having no real love for each other. She also has survived multiple Matrix reboots, with Merovingian collecting his oddity programs each time (like the twins, or those werewolf guys). Watching her survive despite all odds, even while losing hope for love, and surrounded by a variety of mutants would be incredibly entertaining.

Stansfield

(LÉON: THE PROFESSIONAL)

Wouldn’t this basically be BAD LIEUTENANT? Kinda! But it could either be a fairly typical (albeit over-the-top violent) fall from grace story—or Stansfield could show up dirty from jump street and does crazier and crazier operatic shit while keeping his various cons going. There’s enough kooky crime characters for him to outsmart or bump off that it would make his undoing at the hands of Léon that much more satisfying.

Mrs. George

(MEAN GIRLS)

Maybe “villain” is a bit too harsh here. Though Regina’s mom truly seems like an enabling, clinging-to-youth-and-relevance goblin queen. But, as opposed to the other action-packed genre films in the list, this could be a great comedy about an outsider that dreams of having the Most Popular Girl in the School as her daughter; or maybe her mom was her best friend and she tries to replicate it. In any case, it would be a great bit to visit Mrs. George through the years, ‘80s onwards, in high school and beyond as she grows into the character we know, love, and cringe at today.

Clarence Boddicker

(ROBOCOP)

I mean, obviously, right? Boddicker could easily have some sort of tragic backstory as an orphan of Detroit streets or a veteran whose been cast aside by society. But honestly it would just be great for him to be a lunatic who discovers that his anarchic ways could benefit corporations and make him a lot of money. He could try to “take over” Detroit, but realize that the real power lies in OCP and lets the suits do the worst damage for him. In any case, I want explosions, squibs, and swearing!

Simon Phoenix

(DEMOLITION MAN)

Another rise to prominence in another hellscape. But Phoenix would be intriguing to explore because the audience doesn’t know much about the L.A. of 1996 (where DEMOLITION MAN begins), outside of the fact it’s ruled by gangs and is a no fly zone. With enough flair and attitude, this wouldn’t have to be Phoenix taking over the L.A. crime scene, but it could be a quest movie where he tries to do something good but the bureaucracy of the United States ends in tragedy. So now he must make everyone pay—including John Spartan.