Justice League: Ciaran Hinds Consulted Liam Neeson For Advice On Villainous Role

DC fans are excited to see Ciarán Hinds bring the villain Steppenwolf to life in November’s Justice League. While little is known about the antagonist’s involvement in the film, Hinds revealed that inhabiting the role brought forth some surprising challenges – including one that caused him to reach out to a former DC actor.

In a recent interview with The Independent, Hinds revealed that he consulted his longtime friend – and former costar in 1981’s Excalibur – Liam Neeson for help with his performance in Justice League.

While one might assume that the conversation between the two concerned some of Neeson’s past villainous roles, namely playing Ra’s al Ghul in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, Hinds explained that the advice actually had to do with a more recent performance.

Apparently, playing Steppenwolf required the actor to wear a “very tight and embarassing” motion-capture suit, which was a first for Hinds. To help get over his insecurities, Hinds contacted Neeson – who had recently performed in a similar set-up while playing a giant tree in Disney’s A Monster Calls – for advice.

“He sent me a little pamphlet of stuff,” Hinds explained. “With him looking much more elegant than I was, I have to say.”

Now that Hinds has embraced the role, the former Game of Thrones actor teased how Steppenwolf ties into the film, as well as to the iconic DC villain Darkseid.

“He’s old, tired, still trying to get out of his own enslavement to Darkseid.” Hinds revealed. “[But] he has to keep on this line to try and take over worlds.”

In Justice League, fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Justice League is directed by Zack Snyder, from a screenplay by Chris Terrio, and features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck (Batman), Henry Cavill (Superman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ezra Miller (The Flash), Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), Ciarán Hinds (Steppenwolf), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Diane Lane (Martha Kent), Jeremy Irons (Alfred Pennyworth), J.K. Simmons (Commissioner Gordon), Amber Heard (Mera), Kiersey Clemons (Iris West) and Jesse Eisenberg (Lex Luthor).

DC and Warner Bros. have a full slate ahead, with Teen Titans: The Judas Contract coming first on April 4, 2017. After that it’s time for Wonder Woman on June 2, 2017, followed by Justice League on November 17, 2017. The Batman is expected sometime in 2018, with The Flash debuting on March 23, 2018. Aquaman is set for October 5, 2018, and Nightwing’s solo feature is due sometime in 2019.

Via ComicBookMovie

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