CRUELLA Star Mark Strong Talks Sequels & Teases A Possible Return For Merlin In KINGSMAN 3 (Exclusive)

With Cruella out this weekend, we were recently able to catch up with Mark Strong, who teased a possible appearance in Kingsman 3 while also telling us about the funny irony of his lack of sequels.

By RohanPatel - May 25, 2021 09:05 AM EST

Filed Under: Kingsman

Despite a great cast and massive budget, Green Lantern failed to make much of an impact critically or commercially, but one thing almost everyone could agree on was Mark Strong's brilliant performance as iconic DC Comics villain Sinestro, with many hoping we'd get to see more of him in the villainous role.

Speaking with us during the Cruella press tour, he touched on the lack of sequels on his iMDB page and the funny irony of projects that his character dies in seeming to get sequels (i.e. Sherlock Holmes; Kick-Ass) while movies his character survives in don't (Green Lantern; John Carter), and whether that has reshaped his approach to big studio films like Shazam! and Cruella.

"Oh yeah, you can only take it one film at a time and usually when you go and do the first film, the second film hasn’t even been written yet. So, even though you’re signed up to do sequels, they won’t exist. So, I think a lot of it is based on what happens in the first one.

The irony, of course, is that everything I survive in, doesn’t seem to have sequel and everything I get killed in, does. For Sinestro, they didn’t make a Green Lantern 2, but I survived in John Carter, but unfortunately, they didn’t make a second John Carter. Kick-Ass got a sequel, but obviously, I was blown off a balcony. There’s one other where I survive and it didn’t go to a sequel, I can’t think of it off the top of my head, but there’s a sort of strange irony to that.

And, I don’t do jobs, I don’t take on things because there are sequels at all. Usually, you just take it on because you like that individual script. If there are others, so be it."

While he may not have too many sequels under his belt, Strong does seem to enjoy collaborating with some of his favorite directors on different projects, namely Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes; RocknRolla; Revolver) and Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman; Kick-Ass; Stardust), both of whom he's worked with a number of times.

He tells us that nothing is currently in the works with either of them, but that he does stay in touch with both directors throughout the year, and that if either of them had something for him, he'd be there in a heartbeat. He even teased a possible appearance as Merlin in Kingsman 3.

"Yeah, I mean Guy and I text each other occasionally and I’m always... if he finds something for me to do, I’ll be there. The same is true of Matthew, you never know, there is a Kingsman 3 and in that universe, despite the fact that I’ve been blown to pieces, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s out of the running because anything can happen in that universe.

I’ve worked with both of those guys about three times each and the reason you work with people is because you get on with them, so who knows, there may be something further down the line with either of them. I also love working with new people whenever possible as well, and the variety is what I’m interested in, so doing a big studio picture like Cruella and getting the chance to work with Craig Gillespe or something like Shazam working with David, who came from small horror movies. It’s all interesting, it’s all fascinating, and I try to mix it up as much as possible."

Cruella hits theaters and Disney+ Premier Access on May 28.

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29 Comments

ModHaterSLADE - 5/25/2021, 9:02 AM

Can't go wrong with more Mark Strong. Hell of an actor.

Urubrodi - 5/25/2021, 9:12 AM

@ModHaterSLADE - He's a STRONG actor indeed.

Origame - 5/25/2021, 9:08 AM

I mean, after the second movie I'm even expecting pedro pascal to come back as the villain. I can see the scene now, where they show the scene of him going in the meat grinder again, then as our heroes leave another team goes up to his ground up body being like "hurry there's still time". Then just inject some nano machines and he's fine.

soberchimera - 5/25/2021, 9:09 AM

The thumbnail makes him look like an older, balder Taron Edgerton.

Shasvre - 5/25/2021, 9:09 AM

Only one they should bring back for Kingsman 3 is Roxy.

adamcawa - 5/25/2021, 9:12 AM

I feel like that would cheapen his death from the movie, which was arguably the best (and maybe only good) scene in the entire movie.

Bringing him back as a clone and primary antagonist, however, would be a tremendous idea.

xfan320 - 5/25/2021, 9:20 AM

Okay, here's my take on his return:

It would cheapen his death in Kingsman 2 if he just was brought back to life like the characters shot in the head in that film (pretty lame imho!)

BUT, he would be awesome as like an Arnim Zola-type AI/operating system that the real Merlin was working on prior to his demise.

BOOM

bkmeijer2 - 5/25/2021, 9:24 AM

@xfan320 - that would be pretty cool actually

bkmeijer2 - 5/25/2021, 9:23 AM

He was by far the best thing about Golden Circle. Hope he does return for a third one. Same goes for Roxy

Saga - 5/25/2021, 9:33 AM

Wait he's in Cruella???? Might check it out

LiteraryJoe - 5/25/2021, 11:59 AM

@kingpatel - Huge ups for speaking with Strong, he's a presence! I'd take him as Professor X if they don't go the Malcolm/Martin route.

SuperIronman12 - 5/25/2021, 1:00 PM

He got bad luck lmao

Scarilian - 5/25/2021, 2:18 PM

Merlin could have honestly survived it, part of a cut ending would have had him with cyborg legs at the wedding. At this point though would prefer them to go Robot/Cyborg with him if he does return.

Forthas - 5/25/2021, 2:50 PM

Why this man is not Lex Luthor is STILL a crime against humanity.

CRUELLA Star Mark Strong Talks Sequels & Teases A Possible Return For Merlin In KINGSMAN 3 (Exclusive)

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