Matt Nix and Bryan Singer’s ‘The Gifted’ has acquired a new comic book villain. Veteran actor Garret Dillahunt has been cast as Roderick Campbell, an intimidating research scientist working for Sentinel Services. As fans know, the Sentinels are huge, mutant-hunting robots sent to capture and neutralize mutants. Campbell’s exact role is a bit of a mystery at this point, but his description– “Dr. Campbell has a morally dubious mission yet to be revealed”– sounds pretty sinister, so clearly he is a villain of some sort. For the time being however, this part is only recurring, so he may or may not be the show’s ultimate Big Bad.
Dillahunt is a prolific actor who can next be seen in the final season of ‘The Mindy Project’ on Hulu. His work has encompassed both comedy (‘Raising Hope’, ‘John From Cincinnati’) and drama (‘Deadwood’, ‘E.R.’, ‘Justified’). In genre work, he has had roles on ‘The 4400’ and ‘Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles’. He has also appeared in some high-profile films like ’12 Years A Slave’ and ‘No Country For Old Men’. At one point, it was rumored that he was in talks to portray Negan on ‘The Walking Dead’, a role that ultimately went to Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
In the comics, Roderick “Rory” Campbell was a scientist working with Moira MacTaggert on Muir Island who discovered that in a parallel dimension, his counterpart became the mutant hunter known as Ahab. After his leg was severed by a laser, he felt himself growing closer to this destiny. Ultimately, Campbell was transformed, first by Sebastian Shaw, the Black King of the Hellfire Club, who gave him a cybernetic leg in exchange for information on the mutant-killing Legacy Virus, then by Apocalypse who transformed him into one of his Four Horsemen. The parallel universe Ahab led a group of hunters called The Hounds, which could be used on the show.
Unfortunately (?), TV Campbell is unlikely to follow the same outlandish path. Apocalypse surely won’t factor into this show, since he was already featured in the films. The same is true of Shaw who was the heavy in ‘First Class’, but it’s unclear if the events of that film still “count” after ‘Days of Future Past’. But Sage/Tessa, Shaw’s valet in the comics, is a character on the show, played by Hayley Lovitt. Tessa has been both a hero and a villain in the comics, but if the show’s creators choose to portray her as a bad guy, there could certainly be some connection between Campbell and her.
What do you think of Rory Campbell as a villain on this show? Is Dillahunt the right choice to play him? Would you like to see him transform into Ahab?
Action-adventure family drama THE GIFTED, from Marvel, tells the story of a suburban couple whose ordinary lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive. Written by Matt Nix (APB, “Burn Notice”), directed by Bryan Singer (the “X-Men” franchise”) and executive-produced by Nix, Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner (“X-Men: Apocalypse,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “The Wolverine”), Simon Kinberg (“X-Men: Apocalypse,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past”), Jeph Loeb (“Marvel’s Daredevil,” “Marvel’s Jessica Jones”) and Jim Chory (“Marvel’s Daredevil,” “Marvel’s Jessica Jones”), the series stars Stephen Moyer (SHOTS FIRED, “True Blood”) and Amy Acker (“Person of Interest”).
‘The Gifted’ will premiere on Monday, Oct 2, at 9/8C pm on FOX!
Source: Deadline
