New Furiosa Trailer Shows Why Chris Hemsworth Is Perfect As Dementus (But Not For The Reason You Think)

While Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’s villain Dementus looks perfect, the reason that Chris Hemsworth is ideal for the role may not be the one that viewers expect. As a blockbuster veteran at this point, the star has appeared in numerous record-breaking MCU outings, in addition to supporting roles in Snow White and the Huntsman and two Star Trek movies. However, his professional experience isn’t the only thing that makes him a perfect fit for the upcoming Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, where he plays a character named Dementus.

While most of Mad Max’s returning characters have been recast in Furiosa, Dementus was not seen or mentioned in any earlier franchise outings. According to the prequel’s synopsis, Dementus is a ruthless warlord who kidnaps Furiosa at a young age. Judging by the spinoff’s trailer, this sets in motion a lengthy battle between the pair as Furiosa tries to defeat the sneering villain. Hemsworth’s antagonist is so odious that he makes a deal with Fury Road’s villain Immortan Joe to look good to Furiosa, thus inadvertently setting in motion Fury Road’s story later in the Mad Max franchise timeline.

Chris Hemsworth Is Leaning Into His Comedic Strengths For Dementus

Hemsworth’s goofier side is on full display in Furiosa

While Dementus is a monster, that doesn’t mean he’s not entertaining. The second Furiosa trailer showcases Hemsworth’s Dementus as a more eccentric villain, proving that the character is just as hammy and memorably unhinged as Fury Road’s Immortan Joe. Ensuring that Furiosa’s villain is more than a straightforward antagonist is a canny choice since this allows Hemsworth to lean into his natural comedic chops. This should make for a much more memorable villain, and the flamboyance of Dementus fits right into the cartoony world of the Mad Max franchise. Earlier series outings featured similarly over-the-top antagonists.

While Furiosa’s new Immortan Joe actor is sure to chew the scenery too, Hemsworth’s Dementus gets significantly more screen time than his rival warlord in the trailer. His absurdly aggressive demeanor and his garish dress sense are right at home in the world of the franchise, whose post-apocalyptic milieu has always been filled with villains who borrowed their style from biker gangs and cavemen. Hemsworth’s deliberately hammy delivery is more campy than even his silliest scenes as Thor, and the fact that the character seems to be unaware of his ridiculousness only makes this funnier.

Allowing Hemsworth To Be So Flamboyant Can Create A More Memorable Villain

The Mad Max franchise always had over-the-top antagonists

Since the series began, the Mad Max movies have always been filled with absurd antagonists. The grisly action of the violent chase movies is offset by the cartoonish villainy of its bad guys, allowing viewers to laugh despite how gruesome the movies can get. While Dementus is different from earlier Hemsworth villains, his silliness will be central to his success in Furiosa. If Dementus was a more realistic, grounded character, he would stick out in the bizarre world of the Mad Max movies. The series is home to characters like Toecutter and Aunt Entity, so a less flamboyant villain wouldn’t make sense.

In contrast, allowing Hemsworth to lean into his more theatrical side should let Furiosa create an antagonist who is memorably weird just like his predecessors. Hemsworth has proven that he can pull off goofy comedy in everything from Taika Waititi’s Thor sequels to his Jay and Silent Bob Reboot cameo. However, the Mad Max movies require a specific balance of melodramatic villainy and genuine menace that will be new for the experienced actor. Judging by the zanier moments in Furiosa’s second trailer, like Dementus’ reaction to being shot at, the star has nailed this tricky combination.

Over-The-Top Villains Fit The World Of Modern Mad Max Movies

Mad Max’s post-apocalyptic milieu lends itself to cartoony villains

While 1979’s original Mad Max is the most grounded movie in the series, the indie hit still features a bizarre villain in its antagonist, Toecutter. Since the series began, the villains of the Mad Max movies had only grown stranger over time. The Road Warrior introduced the infamous Lord Humungus while Beyond Thunderdome’s villain was played by rock legend Tina Turner. Even Fury Road, which tackles themes of misogyny and despotism with its villainous death cult, mined a lot of humor from Immortan Joe. As both Toecutter and Immortan Joe, the late Hugh Keays-Byrne combined absurdity with cold malice.

Dementus appears to do the same, with Hemsworth dropping the implacable detachment of his Extraction franchise hero for something much sillier. Hemsworth’s Furiosa villain seems to blend the ludicrous self-importance of Immortan Joe with the ostentatious stylings of Lord Humungus, resulting in a villain who is simultaneously too silly to take seriously while still dangerous enough to pose a real threat. This combination could make Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’s antagonist the latest in a string of classic franchise villains.