The Danish star has dipped his toes in three major franchises (Star Wars, Marvel, and James Bond) and is adding a fourth to his resume this April with Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Yet to be nominated for an Oscar, Mads Mikkelsen's career spans over two decades between international and American cinema.
As he steps into the Fantastic Beasts franchise and the Harry Potter universe, Mikkelsen brings his spin to Grindelwald, a character previously established by Johnny Depp in the two earlier films. Mikkelsen is no stranger to playing a villain, but before he makes his arrival in the wizarding world, audiences should take the opportunity to explore his previous characters and work that landed him on every major franchise's radar.
'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' (2016)
Playing a supporting role, Mikkelsen stars as Galen Erso, father of the heroine Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones). A prequel movie, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story follows the mission of a group of misfits that band together to steal the Death Star plans and deliver them to the rebellion.
While Mikkelsen has minimal screen time in the film's 2 hours and 13-minute runtime, his emotional portrayal of a father protecting his family at all costs is admirable. Rogue One is a notable installment in Mikkelsen's sci-fi career and certainly wasn't his last.
'Chaos Walking' (2021)
Starring opposite other franchise titans like Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland, Mikkelsen takes on a villainous role as Mayor Prentiss in the sci-fi film Chaos Walking. Based on the young-adult book series by Patrick Ness, this film is set in a dystopian future where women have disappeared from the planet and men are impacted by "the Noise," a condition that puts all their thoughts on visual display.
Audiences were impressed by the film adaptation, critics were not. Having portrayed characters in both franchises that put Holland and Ridley on the map, Mikkelsen's performance is familiar as takes on an antagonist character well-versed in the world.
'The Salvation' (2014)
With middle-of-the-road reviews from critics and audiences, The Salvation is a film that ultimately received praise because of Mikkelsen's performance. A Danish settler in 1870's America, Jon Jensen (Mikkelsen) avenges the death of his wife by killing the man responsible, setting off a chain reaction in which he becomes hunted.
Stepping into the role of a western hero, Mikkelsen adds a notable genre installment to his career as he works alongside Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Eva Green. Mikkelsen fans can add this to their list of excellent character work on a lesser-known project by the Danish actor.
'The Hunt' (2012)
Nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt casts Mikkelsen as a kindergarten teacher wrongly accused of indecent conduct toward a student. Mikkelsen's masterful performance is beloved by critics and audiences who've leaped to watch the emotionally cutting film.
Mikkelsen provides a wide depth and range in his acting chops in this Danish drama. Persecuted for a crime he didn't commit, Mikkelsen's portrayal of Lucas is a career highlight that makes The Hunt a film that no cinema fan should miss.
'Doctor Strange' (2016)
Adding his name to the long list of exceptional actors and actresses to play Marvel villains, Mikkelsen made his debut in 2016 with Doctor Strange, the same year he starred in Rogue One. Medical doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) becomes a master of the mystic arts and is forced to face a dark threat as Kaecilius (Mikkelsen) starts wreaking havoc on the world.
Mikkelsen provides a worthy adversary for Marvel's hero as Strange is introduced into the cinematic universe. Working opposite big names like Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton, Mikkelsen's performance is excellently crafted as his name reaches a wider viewing audience.
'Riders of Justice' (2020)
A dark, but comedic installment in his filmography, Riders of Justice is a Danish action film that rivals any Liam Neeson film. When his wife is killed in a seemingly accidental train wreck, Markus (Mikkelsen) returns home from deployment to care for his teenage daughter. His mindset and mission change when a survivor of the train wreck arrives to convince him it was no accident, and they begin the search and destruction of those responsible.
No stranger to protagonists with heartache, Mikkelsen provides a backbone force for supporting characters who aren't versed in the art of revenge. Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen, Riders of Justice is a film that any Mikkelsen fan should have on their watchlist radar.
'Arctic' (2018)
A chilling edition to Mikkelsen's filmography, Arctic follows a plane crash survivor as he struggles to decide whether to stay put or trek into the treacherous arctic unknown to find help. The ingenuity and resourcefulness of Overgard (Mikkelsen) keep audiences believing he's capable of holding out until help arrives.
Critics and viewers were enthralled by the storytelling and strong performance in this film. With a small cast and minimalist plot, Joe Penna's Arctic provides an excellent spotlight on Mikkelsen for movie-goers less familiar with his work.
'Casino Royale' (2006)
Embodying a Bond villain is no easy task, but Mikkelsen makes it look like it's a walk in the park. In Daniel Craig's first installment as the MI6 agent, Casino Royale finds James Bond at an exclusive, high-stakes poker tournament as he plays against Le Chiffre (Mikkelsen), a private banker who invests in terrorist organizations.
With a scarred eye that tears blood, Mikkelsen creates an intimidating adversary, skilled at not only playing poker but matching wits with 007. Mikkelsen's performance was crafted so beautifully it would resonate with audiences and loom over Craig's Bond franchise for the remaining films.
'Another Round' (2020)
Collaborating again, Mikkelsen and Vinterberg's Another Round won not only the acclaim of critics and audiences but also took home an Oscar for Best International Feature Film. In desperate need of a change, four schoolteachers make a pact to drink daily as in experiment to see how their lives will change.
Mikkelsen would be nominated for a BAFTA Best Actor award for his role as Martin. This Danish dramedy is an inviting watch for established Mikkelsen viewers and those fresh to his cinematic craft.
'Hannibal' (2013-2015)
In arguably his most notable and iconic role, Mikkelsen steps into the kitchen and shoes of Hannibal Lecter in NBC's Hannibal. For three seasons, the show followed the relationship of Lecter and FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) before Lecter was caught and put behind bars. Every scene is a masterful chess game between Lecter and Graham, drawing in audiences and critics from multiple genres.
Stopping just short of hitting The Silence of the Lambs plotline, NBC canceled the show, and it has yet to find a new home Fans have made their desperation known for Mikkelsen, the cast, and showrunner Bryan Fuller to return with the brilliant characters first created by author Thomas Harris.