After David Tennant Addressed Playing ‘Absolutely Inexcusable’ Bad Guys Like Jessica Jones’ Kilgrave, I Need To See Him Back In The MCU

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2025 marks a resurgence of sorts for Marvel characters who first appeared on Netflix shows. Characters like Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Jon Bernthal are back on our screens with “Daredevil: Born Again,” and there’s talk that The Defenders might reunite. If that happens, it would be Krysten Ritter’s first time reprising her role as Jessica Jones since 2018, and the thought of her return brings to mind David Tennant‘s chilling portrayal of Kilgrave. Tennant, who was once the Doctor in “Doctor Who,” has discussed his villainous role, and I can’t help but hope for his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after hearing his thoughts on it.

At Fan Expo Cleveland, I had the privilege of being part of the crowd that listened to David Tennant discuss his role as the Purple Man. In a packed ballroom full of enthusiastic fans, he expressed his thoughts on the portrayal of Kilgrave in “Jessica Jones.” He shared why he felt the series didn’t push the boundaries too harshly with that character.

In the exceptional narrative crafted by Melissa Rosenburg, she masterfully combined mature themes with superhero elements, tackling complex issues such as consent, childhood abuse, and unhealthy relationships. It might seem unlikely for these subjects to coexist in a comic book series, but her writing skillfully navigated these difficult topics, making it possible to discuss them effectively.

Among villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I find Kilgrave to be the most terrifying due to his mind control abilities, even though he doesn’t pose a threat on par with big-name adversaries like Thanos or Ultron. A significant part of this fear stems from Tennant’s captivating performance, which left a lasting impression on me. I had primarily known him before Jessica Jones as the Tenth Doctor on Doctor Who. Despite Ten’s occasional flaws as an alien time traveler, he was nothing like Kilgrave!

Up until very recently, I’d been torn about whether I’d prefer to encounter Kilgrave once more, a feeling that dates back to the announcement of Tennant’s return in the Jessica Jones Season 2 trailer. On one hand, I don’t wish for Jessica to endure the trauma of Kilgrave re-entering her life in any capacity. Yet, on the other hand, I admire the chemistry between Krysten Ritter and David Tennant immensely.

The actor convinced me that it would be worth watching Kilgrave return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, should The Defenders have another opportunity to air on Disney+.

Kilgrave committed actions that were unforgivable, but at the same time, the story provided insights into why he might have become this way. His background was harsh, and his power to control others through speech was devastating, something that would destroy anyone. Although we don’t support or approve of his actions, the complexity of the narrative allowed us to comprehend how he came to be in this state. This aspect of the story was skillfully written. Playing such a complex character must have been challenging for the actor, as Kilgrave is undeniably terrible and unacceptable, yet we can trace the path that led him here.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but appreciate David Tennant’s perspective on Kilgrave – he didn’t condone his actions, but rather found the character intriguing because of the depth behind his motives, instead of portraying a villain who causes chaos for its own sake. It doesn’t mean that we as fans should view him in the same light, even though Tennant breathed life into this complex character well before Netflix’s Marvel TV universe migrated to Disney+.

In a revealing statement, the joint lead of “Good Omens” explained that while working on “Jessica Jones,” he chose not to fully embrace the “Method Acting” approach to maintain a distinction between himself and the rest of the cast.

I believe we may have misunderstood; Krysten is incredibly open and simple to collaborate with, truly remarkable, and exceptionally intelligent. However, when she transformed into Jessica Jones, I must admit I felt a bit intimidated. In reality, she’s far from fierce – quite the opposite. She prefers to be behind the camera, knitting… Her aura is simply captivating; she’s an absolute genius.

Jessica Jones successfully overcame Kilgrave, making Tennant’s assertion that she’s “exceptionally strong” hard to argue with. However, her struggles from what Kilgrave inflicted on her were evident in the second season. If The Defenders ever reunite, it would be intriguing to portray Kilgrave as a lingering ghost troubling Jessica, rather than bringing him back to life somehow. Krysten Ritter’s portrayal of the character has been through a lot, but her ability to handle such scenes is undeniably impressive.

Since Krysten Ritter recently expressed readiness to reprise her role as Jessica Jones and the upcoming series “Daredevil: Born Again” is creating a lot of excitement, it appears that the chances of seeing her character again are higher than they’ve been in a while. As for David Tennant potentially returning as Kilgrave, it’s a bit more uncertain; whether through a resurrection, flashback, or dream sequence, this remains to be seen.

Currently, you have an opportunity to rewatch both seasons of Jessica Jones, which are available for streaming on Disney+. Additionally, don’t miss Daredevil: Born Again, as it takes you back to the part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that originated on Netflix.

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2025-03-25 04:08