Ready Villain One: Ben Mendelsohn is filling Alan Rickman’s boots in Robin Hood

Rogue One and Ready Player One star Ben Mendelsohn takes on Alan Rickman’s iconic character The Sheriff of Nottingham in the upcoming Robin Hood movie.

The iconic role of the Sheriff of Nottingham has had many incarnations, with the most memorable being Alan Rickman’s portrayal of the wicked ruler in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in 1991. Now, Ben Mendelsohn is set to take over the mantle of the villain we love to hate in the latest Robin Hood film due for release in November 2018.

Playing a villain won’t be new to Mendelsohn’s. His break out performance was playing a villain in The Year My Voice Broke (1987). Noah Taylor, who Game of Thrones fans will remember as Locke in seasons 3 and 4, plays an awkward, small-town boy in the poignant coming-of-age drama. Mendelsohn plays Taylor’s arch-rival, a thieving bad boy, which won him an Australian Film Industry Award (AFI) for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

In 1990, Mendelssohn starred in a quirky Australian, award-winning film, The Big Steal, about a teenage boy trying to get the perfect girl while trying to get the perfect set of wheels. That same year saw the release of a forgotten western, Quigley Down Under, featuring Tom Selleck as a sharpshooter at war with a wealthy ranch owner played by Alan Rickman.

Working alongside Rickman — who would become known as one of the greatest on-screen villains of our generation — was a young supporting actor, 20-year-old Ben Mendelsohn. Now, close to 30 years later, Mendelsohn is literally filling Alan Rickman’s black shiny boots with his leading roles as the villain we love to hate.

Though the movie Quigley Down Under might have been long forgotten, Alan Rickman played the film’s villainous role to perfection. His reputation as an iconic bad guy continued with infamous roles like the rogue Hans Gruber in Die Hard in 1988, the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in 1991, and of course, let us not forget, the wretched and monotone Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films.

For decades, Mendelsohn has been one of Australia’s most hardworking and enduring actors, starring in critically acclaimed dramas including Love My Way (2006-2007) and Animal Kingdom (2010). Mendelsohn finally received international acclaim and an Emmy with his portrayal of the manipulative and disturbing opportunist Danny Rayburn in the Netflix series Bloodline (2015-2017).

Now, Mendelsohn is Hollywood’s go-to-man for evil antagonists and has been a very busy bad boy. His blockbuster film credits include Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and The Darkest Hour (2017). Plus, we’re getting ready for Mendelsohn to play the antagonist Nolan Sorrento in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming sci-fi adventure Ready Player One in March 2018.

He has leapt from a nasty supporting character in The Dark Knight Rises (2016) to primary antagonist, and soon, another role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Rumors cite his potential role as leader of the Skrulls in Captain Marvel, as hinted by Variety.

Rickman’s Sheriff of Nottingham stole all the scenes he was in with his dastardly deeds, over-the-top melodrama, devilish black outfits and hair to match. The images released of the new Robin Hood movie present a grittier adaptation.

Mendelsohn’s Sheriff may be more slick and restrained, mirroring his steel grey outfits and the actor’s talent for playing icy antagonists. Perhaps his demeanor will be more akin to Donald Sutherland’s President Snow in The Hunger Games.

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While Mendelsohn’s Sheriff may not threaten to cut out Robin of Loxley’s heart with a spoon (though it would be great if he does), we look forward to seeing Mendelsohn’s twist on this bewitching and shady character.