Why do we love the Devil?
We can't help ourselves.
He's one of the most ancient and cryptic characters of all time.
And when he's on screen... you can't not watch.
Currently on my soap opera "Days of Our Lives" one of the main characters is possessed.
It's so much fun.
Now who needs the Devil on their acting resume?
Redditor 70701 wanted to debate some casting choices. They asked:
"Morgan Freeman was well accepted as the actor to play god, which actor would you nominate to play the devil in all future depictions?"
This is difficult. The Devil is one of my ALL TIME FAVS!! So many have done him well.
True Evil
hannibal lecter smile GIF by 20th Century Fox Home EntertainmentGiphy"Anthony Hopkins."
SuvenPan
"Hopkins just does evil so beautifully."
bortbort8
Peter
"Peter Stormare."
JacobPlaster
"Other than knowing him from Armageddon and Constantine I felt I never saw as much of him as I should. Amazing as the creepy freaking doctor in Until Dawn."
"But hands down his performance as Chance Gilbert in Longmire is my favorite. He was just downright unsettling to the bone. I felt like he was almost acting through the screen because it really was unsettling like I was uncomfortable."
PretendThisIsMyName
The Best Men
"Also Morgan Freeman."
fluffymuffcakes
"I’d like to see Morgan Freeman as God juxtaposed with Denzel as the Devil."
overmonk
"Or Samuel L Jackson as people confuse him w/ Morgan Freeman all the time. And he'd be a fantastic Devil."
TwiceOnThursdays
He's the Best
"Christoph Waltz."
1ndomitablespirit
"Seriously. This man managed play the most evil character in a movie that included HITLER."
mrtyman
"But he was so insanely good at it that I think part of you actually ends up liking him in some f**ked up way?"
"Like I know he's literally a nazi colonel and is incredibly evil for most of the movie (either because he's wholly evil, or smart enough to know that he needs to pretend) but he's so cunning and smooth that I feel like most people kind of weirdly end up liking him in a love to hate him way."
Furaskjoldr
Alex
sexy true blood GIFGiphy"Alexander Skarsgård."
iluvvivapuffs
"I think Bill Skarsgard could really nail playing Satan, especially if you wanted a more Lestat-type Satan."
No_External6156
So far I am very happy. Nice taste people...
So Good
Mads Mikkelsen Oops GIF by James Bond 007Giphy"Mads Milkkelsen."
FattyFattyMcFatPants
"Oh Lord... you're right."
WrenchEagle07
I Love Her
"Tilda Swinton."
PaulinLA23
"This was my very first thought too. There are a lot of different depictions of the devil - alien and aloof, angry and monstrous, coy and tempting, etc."
"And I feel like Swinton has played villainous roles that touch on most of them, many blending different aspects together or even dramatically switching between them as part of the role. There are other actors I can imagine who could better embody one particular 'kind' of devil, but Swinton is the only one I can think of that feels like she could be basically all of them."
M0dusPwnens
The Manipulator
"Charles Dance."
puckit
"Charles Dance was perfect in Game of Thrones. I was hanging on every word he delivered on screen. This is a great choice."
mattbakerrr
"No one does manipulative, powerful, clever villains like Dance. Great pick."
Dodo0708
Scar
"Jeremy Irons."
TheTrinhsanity
"Scar took care of that for me. Don't think he can ever top that performance."
Strong_Comedian_3578
"Would anybody be prepared for that epic performance?"
Pablo_Eskabear
The Charmer
Red Carpet Oscars GIF by The Academy AwardsGiphy"I think Sam Rockwell would be a charming devil, and that’s the most entertaining kind."
f**ktheroses
"100%. The devil needs to be charming and unapologetically sleazy. Rockwell would nail it."
maverick1ba
ANYTHING
"Gary Oldman. He can play anything."
DogsInCapes
"Gary Oldman is, OBJECTIVELY, the greatest actor ever. He has my vote."
Fannie-Bandit
"He could play both God and the devil in the same movie, but I wouldn’t realize that either one was him until halfway through."
tragedyfish
Legend
"Tim Curry."
Knick_Knick
"This was way too far down. There is little that scares me in the way of movies and characters etc. Tim Curry in Legend still scares me."
Puzzlepetticoat
"I want Tim Curry to live forever."
therealrowanatkinson
A Rarity
"Tom Waits."
True-Towel-7234
"According to Mr. Waits, there isn’t no devil. There’s just God when he’s drunk."
JamesJax
"His acting career is very small and deliberate. I love his performances in Dr. Parnasus, Mystery Men, and Dracula even though I don't like Dracula as a film (personal opinion, not meant as a slight on the film)."
waltjrimmer
"Came here to say the same. The devil is not just pure evil, he’s also a clever trickster. Tom Waits absolutely was a believable devil all the way."
throwitofftheboat
The Boys
Jack Nicholson Sunglasses GIF by Pop TVGiphy"He's a bit too old by now but I think the perfect person for the job would be Jack Nicholson. Alternatively, I think Javier Bardem or Jeffrey Dean Morgan would also do the job well."
Minister_of_Joy
More Human
"Mark Pellegrino, the actor that portrays him in supernatural, always thought he was a perfect representation of how the devil would interact with modern humans, also played Jacob in lost, similar vibes."
Brian_Gay
"Surprised it took me this long to find this answer. I’d definitely agree that he feels like a better representation of how Lucifer would act around humans than some of the other suggestions."
rexspook
Tom.
"Tom Ellis."
kraliyetkoyunu
"He portrays a very different devil compared to the other mentions. Less the menacing and evil aspect and much more the temptation 'just do whatever you want' aspect. Not someone who deliberately wants to turn people from god for the sake of it but just someone who has a fundamentally different idea of how things should be."
Kempeth
Shallow
"Hugh Laurie. As House he was the most likeable self centered manipulative ass hole you could find. Who did so much good but only to prove he was tight or make someone else look bad. What better Satan than one who is liked, does good and saves in the name of petty vindictive shallow pride to turn mankind."
co_snarf
The Good Guy
Burning Tom Hanks GIF by 20th Century Fox Home EntertainmentGiphy" Tom Hanks, what can’t he do?"
saulsa_
"He would be an amazingly creepy devil. Kindly, avuncular, but still menacing. Like Max Von Sydow in Needful Things."
Tastewell
Obvious
"Loved Ray Wise as the devil in Reaper. This is why no single actor should play the devil, we have had far too many wonderful versions."
FreedTMG
"Came here for Ray Wise! He was excellent as the devil."
IwoketheBalrog
The Best
"Peter Stormare."
JacobPlaster
"Other than knowing him from Armageddon and Constantine I felt I never saw as much of him as I should. Amazing as the creepy f**king doctor in Until Dawn. But hands down his performance as Chance Gilbert in Longmire is my favorite. He was just downright unsettling to the bone. I felt like he was almost acting through the screen because it really was unsettling like I was uncomfortable."
PretendThisIsMyName
"Also played Abrutzi on prison break."
Wolf_and_the_yakuza
Laid Back
Danny Trejo Action GIF by SalitosGiphy"Danny Trejo."
bemest
"Maybe as a laid back Satan that makes tacos and offers life advice. Not an evil Satan more of a Hades, just a guy who does his job well and goes home to his wife and three headed dog."
Camp_Express
I am here for everyone on this list. And please add Cate Blanchett!! And Queen Viola Davis!
@elektrotimmy/X
@RpsAgainstTrump/X
@madameshawshank/X