Where is our scary villain?

First off, you all should read the wonderful thread by MarsPhoenix wherein he speculates on a robot vs. man theme in Episode VII. Much of what I'm going to get into is related.

So... Let's start with Vader. Everything begins, and ends, and revolves around him and his legacy. Vader was scary. Imposing both in physicality and dark side powers. Toss in the mask/voice and you've got instant nightmare fuel.

Hopefully we can all agree that whatever villain we get in Episode VII needs to be scary and iconic.

Now let's put the most common version/theories of the new villain through the 'Is This Scary?' filter. Keep in mind, these are my impressions of what is known thus far. And I am certifiably insane.

1. Adam Driver
2. Luke
3. Max von Sydow
4. Masked/helmeted character from production art with a broad sword light saner feat. mini sabers as a hilt
5. Darth Plageuis
6. Darth Bane
7. A clone.

1. Adam Driver. 'Is This Scary?' No. He is Shaggy. We can put him in an outfit and have him be something the vein of Vader (you HAVE to as Shaggy is not intimidating in the least.) But we've yet to see anything like that unless he's the character listed as 4 below.

2. Luke. 'Is This Scary?' No. It's mostly tragic, a gut punch to fans who've waited for his return... But not like this.

3. Max von Sydow. 'Is This Scary?' Maybe. He's rumored to be a drunk at the bar/auction house, who is hiding a secret. He's either the henchman or the big baddie. MvS is creepy looking as is, those eyebrows, but we'd be back in Sheev territory with Scary Old White Guy as the villain than.

4. Masked helmeted character. 'Is This Scary?' No. Looks like the Emperor's Royal Guard with a sword. Do not want. Very generic.

5. Darth Plageuis. 'Is This Scary?' No, if we're sticking to EU lore about him being a Muun. That species is horribly designed. Pale skin, elongated foreheads... We'd end up with an anorexic looking Voldemort... More laughable than scary. If they ditch Plageuis being a Muun, then maybe he winds up being scary.

6. Darth Bane. 'Is This Scary?' Yes. His design is iconic and very much in line with something in the vein of Vader. His voice and what's under there can also add to the fear factor.

7. A clone. 'Is This Scary?' No. Clones are poor excuses for villains. They're not iconic since they'll just be a xerox of whomever they've been cloned from. You could argue well, we'll clone Vader! Of course. But at what cost? The ST cannot ride on too many of the OT's coattails. The main villain needs to be its own thing, not Vader again.

Now you're wondering, well that wasn't helpful, Bobo! But wait, there's more!

Think about what is scary and what sells like hotcakes these days...

Zombies. From The Walking Dead to Resident Evil and World War Z/28 Days Later, zombies have become hot commodities over the last 10 years. Could we see zombies in Episode VII?

If the jedi become force ghosts... But the sith cannot as they need the flesh to carry on (Please correct me, someone) then we're either looking at a sith spirit jumping into and out of bodies (lame, same problems as a cloned villain) OR:

A sith who has not only found a way to cheat death himself, but has discovered a way to raise the dead.

Imagine Bane or Plageuis reappearing with zombie sith/soldiers. Scary? Hell yeah. Vader zombie would be very useful, if just for playing mind games on the man you're out to kill: Luke Skywalker.

A sith necromancer? Why not. Come at me bros!

Just think of the headlines: The Star Wars Saga: From A(nakin) to Z(ombie)

P.S. I know it's Disney. But their most iconic films typically have very, very scary villains. So that's no excuse. I want a scary villain dangnabbit!!

 

Haha. Yeah, I'm loving the badge trolling going on. Better to be loved and hated than fall somewhere in the middle I suppose. (Plus, real talk: we all know which 2 or 3 chaps are likely behind the badge trolling.)

Love the Breaking Bad anti-hero notion.. Could def work. Or the Pinocchio robot trying to be a man as put forward by MarsPhoenix.

 

Yea, you're right. Can't have Disney's two tentpole releases with the same villain/theme. Wow. Thanks, sometimes the forest trees thing yknow.

 

L

Let a cyborg boy dream, willya!!
J/k valid points. Thanks.