Okay, so normally The Playlist isn’t your go-to one-stop shop for all things toys. But for some reason, despite having a tight grip on not letting spoilers out via leaks, scripts, or actors, Marvel Studios has yet to figure out the toy licensing problem. And thus, months before “Captain Marvel” hits theaters, we now know the answer to one of the biggest questions in the film — who the hell is Jude Law supposed to be?
**Spoilers for ‘Captain Marvel.’ For real. You’ve been warned.**
**Seriously**
**Last chance**
When the casting was announced for Marvel Studios’ latest superhero film, all the actors were given a character name. All but one. Jude Law was cast but Marvel cleverly never spelled out exactly who he was supposed to be in the film. Fans (and some film journalists) largely speculated that Law would portray Mar-Vell, aka the OG Captain Marvel. It felt like it was going to be one of those “worst-kept secrets” things, like with Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan in “Star Trek Into Darkness.”
But apparently, we were all wrong.
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Over at Reddit (where the best and worst of the Internet is consistently on display), a Marvel fan posted what seems to be the leaked pictures of the upcoming Funko POP! toy line for “Captain Marvel.” The line features everybody from Nick Fury, Captain Marvel, and Goose the Cat. But also listed is what appears to be Jude Law, with the character name Yon-Rogg.
Now, unless you’re a big comic book nerd (like myself), the name Yon-Rogg means absolutely nothing. But, in fact, revealing the character name not only spoils Jude Law’s character but perhaps the plot of the film, itself. Allow me to explain.
Yon-Rogg is not a good guy, at all. He started his career in the Kree military, as a Colonel. However, after Mar-Vell (again, the original Captain Marvel, not Carol Danvers) started to become the star member of the military, Yon-Rogg became hugely jealous and did everything in his power to ruin his rival. He sends Mar-Vell to Earth, which is seen as a backwoods planet, as a sort of punishment.
Years later, when Carol Danvers becomes part of the Marvel Universe, Yon-Rogg is once again fighting Mar-Vell. Yon-Rogg kidnaps Danvers. In the ensuing battle, Danvers becomes irradiated by the Kree Psyche-Magnetron (which many believe is seen in the trailer for the film), leading her to gain superpowers. After Carol becomes a superhero, she battles Yon-Rogg and over the course of the battle, a lesion in her head bursts, causing her to lose all her memories.
So, how the hell does all this relate to the film? Well, looking at the trailer, realizing Yon-Rogg is in the picture, it’s clear that Jude Law is the film’s antagonist. And as in the comics, he’s probably responsible for some behind-the-scenes plotting that led to Carol leaving Earth, getting her powers, and losing her memories, as she is seen in the trailer failing to remember her Earthly past. And in the comics, Yon-Rogg is seen as a bit of a mentor for the original Captain Marvel before he betrays the hero.
TL;DR — Jude Law is the bad guy in “Captain Marvel.” You’ve been spoiled. Sorry.