Mads Mikkelsen Confirms His Character in INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY Is Not Connected to Toht

Movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Image Safe Mads Mikkelsen James Mangold about a year agoby GeekTyrant

Ever since the first trailer debuted for director James Mangold’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, a lot of fans have wondered if Mads Mikkelsen’s villainous character Jurgen Valler had any relation to Raiders of the Lost Ark’s Arnold Toht. Turns out, the answer is no, they are only connected through the Nazi Party.

In an interview with Total Film, Mikkelsen dished a little on how they tried to separate the characters and his admiration for what actor Richard Lacey’s portrayal of Arnold Toht. When talking about Toht, the actor said, "I love that character," and explained that he's a part of making the black coat, hat and glasses look iconic. He went on to explain how they are different:

“We didn't go that far with the character. It would have been interesting. [Toht] was more of a henchman, I would say. And this guy is the brain behind a lot of things. So they were not going down the same path. But I am wearing glasses. That's one thing. But we tried to avoid copying him at all, because he did it to perfection.”

I like the fact that there is that distinction between the villains. Toht is a henchman, and Valler is the leader of his mission. In The Dial of Destiny Valler has infiltrated NASA in 1969 with plans for discrediting the moon landing. This isn’t a far-fetched idea since it has been documented that NASA hired former Nazis to help them with the space race. He is also looking to "rectify the world and make it into a better place as he sees fit."

Mikkelson also explained that Voller is loosely based on Wernher von Braun, and discusses how "the Americans [...] opened their arms and their doors for scientists from the Third Reich. And they closed their eyes in regards to whatever atrocity they might have committed."

To be honest, I thought their looks were too similar at first then I remembered the Nazis’ need for uniformity. It totally makes sense that their sense of fashion would be congruent.

Let us know what you think.

Billy out!