Thomas Kretschmann Takes A Villainous Role In Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Though the titular Ultron will be the main baddie in Joss Whedon’s upcoming sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron, he won’t be the only threat that our favorite superhero team goes up against. It was recently revealed that HYDRA leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (try saying that five times fast) would also appear in the film. At the time, there were no actors linked to the role but today, THR is reporting that Thomas Kretschmann, of television’s Dracula, will be taking the part.

For those unfamiliar with the villain, HitFix has outlined his role in the film as follows:

In “Age Of Ultron,” Baron Von Strucker is the initial threat, the guy they’re fighting at the start of the film. He does not have a major ongoing role in the film, but he is responsible for bringing Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch into contact with the Avengers in the first place, since they start the film working either with or for the Baron. If you look at this like a James Bond movie, Von Strucker’s the bad guy they’ll take care of in the pre-credits sequence before they move into the main story. Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch have a complicated journey in this film, and the question of whether they’re good or bad is one of the big things driving the movie overall.

What’s most interesting about this is that Kretschmann signed a deal for several films, so we’ll likely be seeing him show up elsewhere in the Marvel universe. Perhaps in another Avengers sequel? Or maybe in the next Captain America? Only time will tell.

Avengers: Age of Ultron will open on May 1, 2015. Tell us, are you excited to see von Strucker in the film? And what do you think about Kretschmann being cast in the role? Let us know in the comments section below.