Loki may have been the main villain in The Avengers, but the general rule of sequels is to do things bigger, like may multiple bad guys to contend with. We already know Avengers: Age of Ultron will have James Spader as the titular evil android, and now a rumor has emerged over at Latino Review that Joss Whedon is casting for someone to play Baron Von Strucker, the leader of terrorist organization HYDRA.
They say Whedon's search is for a "physically imposing' actor between the ages of 40-50, with Dougray Scott (Enigma) and Marton Csokas (The Debt) two names he's considering. Strucker is a former Nazi and frequent Captain America antagonist who has been augmented by various HYDRA formulas which augment his physical abilities and slow his aging. He's also been exposed to the Death Spore which makes him nearly impossible to kill permanently.
Hitfix has additional information on Strucker's part in the film, saying that he won't be a major threat all throughout the film....
"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 or 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."
There may be some major casting announcements forthcoming, so stay tuned. Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1st 2015.
