Captain America archvillain Helmut Zemo popped up last in Captain America: Civil War, played by Daniel Brühl (Inglorious Basterds), but a lot of comics fans were a bit lukewarm to his portrayal, particularly his appearance. Zemo’s costume tends to be a bit theatrical and outlandish in the comic book source material, especially in dress, but lordy, that’s part of the appeal. I mean, just look at how goofy he looks, while still being completely intimidating. It’s just so great and comic books at his best.
Zemo is WERKING that fur lining. Slay all day, Zemo.
However, images that have been released of Zemo as the main Big Bad in Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier suggest that the showrunners will allow Zemo to embrace his purple-masked roots. First, we got to glimpse this image of Brühl donning the mask:
“I. Look. Fabu.”
And then, just last week, fans got a look at Zemo looking pretty dang close to his comic book roots and how he’ll look in the series (sadly, without the crown, but you can’t win ’em all):
While Marvel Studios runs a tight ship in terms of storytelling (on the whole), it’s unfortunate that so few of its villains crop up again to fight another day, with most of them dying at their adventure’s end. That’s why it’s so heartening to see Zemo, who was imprisoned at the end of Civil War for his crimes, return once again, with the added bonus that he’ll look pretty badass. A dude in a purple mask has rarely look so menacing.
Zemo in his masked glory will pop up to wreak havoc in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier when the series debuts on March 19th on Disney+.
Related: Sam & Bucky Snipe at Each Other in New The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Trailer