Summary

Dementus in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a charismatic yet brutal warlord, a departure from Chris Hemsworth’s heroic roles.
The film focuses on Furiosa’s origin story before the events of Mad Max: Fury Road , with Dementus playing a pivotal role.
Hemsworth enjoyed the opportunity to play a character who could quickly switch from charm to violence, adding unpredictability.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga star Chris Hemsworth explains how his post-apocalyptic warlord villain Dementus is different from his well-known Marvel hero role of Thor. Set roughly two decades before the events of Mad Max: Fury Road, George Miller’s latest chapter in the franchise diverts its focus from the warrior and concentrates on the defining moments of Furiosa’s origin, played by Anya-Taylor Joy. Dementus is a new character in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, who abducted the titular hero as a child.

With Mad Max prequel set to shine a light on an unexplored corner of the Wasteland, Hemsworth spoke with Screen Rant about how he approached his role. The actor enjoyed playing a character who could change from charismatic to brutal in an instant, taking inspiration from dictators to create Dementus’ Warlord persona. Check out Hemsworth’s explanation below:

Yeah, it was really refreshing to have that opportunity. The charisma was a big thing that George talked about from day one, two years prior to shooting; the commonality between dictators and people in power who had amassed large followings [is that] there had to be an air of charisma. There had to be promise out of the suffering they were in and identification around, “I know who has caused your problems, and I know the solution. Follow me!” There needed to be some sort of fun and humor and joy and charisma in order to woo people into – not a false sense of security, but some sense of comfort. He needed to be enjoyable to be around.

And I think it also makes it a little more surprising when there is a brutal act or an act of violence if, just prior to that, you’ve sort of relaxed into an enjoyable statement. The unpredictable nature of it was what George was definitely after, what was on the page and what we kind of played with a lot. But it was so refreshing to do something different and do something that allowed me that opportunity. I love playing the superhero, but it does come with its limitations.

Has Chris Hemsworth Ever Portrayed A Villain?

Hemsworth Has Played Some Antagonistic Roles.

While Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga ‘s twisted wasteland warlord Dementus is more than likely a sinister figure, Hemsworth’s portrayal of Kevin is a good glimpse at how the actor can portray maniacal foes.

While Hemsworth has been a recognizable face in Hollywood since 2009 with his brief portrayal of Starfleet hero George Kirk in the opening moments of Star Trek, the actor has mostly played heroic roles. Having portrayed an ever-evolving take on Thor for thirteen years and joined numerous franchises, including Men in Black, Snow White & The Huntsman, and most recently, Transformers, the actor has earned a reputation as a go-to performer for protagonists. Despite this, one pre-Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga role did allow Hemsworth to tap into villainy.

In 2016’s Ghostbusters, Hemsworth portrayed the well-natured but somewhat absent-minded Kevin, who finds himself possessed by the spirit of occultist villain Rowan North in the movie’s final act. In these moments, Hemsworth takes a character who had up until that point been lovable and renders him an absolute menace under the control of the movie’s antagonist, controlling both spirits and possessed entities in a show of power. While Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga‘s twisted wasteland warlord Dementus is more than likely a sinister figure, Hemsworth’s portrayal of Kevin is a good glimpse at how the actor can portray maniacal foes.

However, Hemsworth’s best efforts as a clear-cut villainous character were demonstrated in 2018’s Bad Times at the El Royale. In the thriller, the actor portrayed a charming but sadistic cult leader, Billy Lee, who eventually catches up with Dakota Johnson and Cailee Spaeny’s characters at the hotel. Although the character prominently featured in the last third of the movie, Hemsworth showcased his antagonistic side, with menace and charisma. This is likely not far off from his latest role as Dementus, who also holds characteristics of a ruthless leader.

Many elements of Thor may be brought to mind from Dementus’ design, such as his cape, more regal apocalyptic attire, and long flowing air. However, both Furiosa trailers and Hemsworth’s descriptions reveal that he is no benevolent heroic ruler. From urging Furiosa to give into the brutality and cynicism the Wasteland brings, to his ability to switch between calm and collected to full of rage, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga‘s villain is the perfect foil for whom Taylor-Joy’s character will become. But audiences will have to wait and see whether Hemsworth’s warlord can leave a lasting impact on Furiosa.