Strong goes to Mars | Movie News

I knew that Mark Strong was popping up a lot these days, but I didn’t realize just how often until now. In addition to playing in the villain in Guy Ritchie’s SHERLOCK HOLMES this Christmas, Strong is also in KICK-ASS and ROBIN HOOD. But if that wasn’t enough, he’s just added another big film to his plate.

Strong will be the nemesis for Mr. John Carter in JOHN CARTER OF MARS, Andrew Stanton’s sci-fi epic slated for release in 2012. Talking to Collider, Strong had this to say about the role:

"I play a character called Matai Shang and he is the ruler of a group of people called the Ferns who are like the old Olympian Gods. They exist….people aren’t really sure if they exist, but basically he’s a master of the Universe. They travel ’round keeping order in the Universe. So basically he exists over and above the Martians that exist on the planet. Like I say, he’s like an Olympian God. I mean getting to play Mati Shang Master of the Universe, it doesn’t get much better than that."

Strong says the character really comes into his own in the second half of the film, and then blows up in the 2nd and 3rd movies. In addition to Strong joining up, JOHN CARTER already has an impressive cast in the form of Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church, Dominic West, Samantha Morton and James Purefoy. I’m not sure how I feel about Taylor Kitsch starring as Carter, but this is definitely a project to keep an eye on.

Extra Tidbit: John Carter first showed up in print in 1912. Was sci-fi even invented back then?