The following article contains spoilers for Better Call Saul season 6.
After a more than proper sendoff in Better Call Saul, Tony Dalton’s talent for playing villains is beyond discussion, however, after four years of playing a cold-hearted drug magnate, it goes without saying his days as Lalo Salamanca influence his appearances in the MCU’sHawkeye.
Despite only joining the Breaking Bad universe in 2018, when the Jimmy McGill spinoff was already heading towards the end of its fourth season, Dalton easily became of the best new characters in Better Call Saul. Regardless of that, his success in such a widely beloved and acclaimed series meant that the audience’s perception of Dalton, an actor who polished his craft in Mexico’s entertainment industry, was that of a certified villain, something that ultimately came in handy when playing Jack Duquesne’s, aka the Swordman.
In a new interview for Discussing Film, the actor tackles this subject by saying “four years playing a hitman [...] doesn’t help to have a good image of your characters,” so getting to chance to put his comedic talents to good use in Hawkeye was quite the opportunity. Perhaps that is why Dalton says he’d be absolutely on board with playing Jack Duquesne, if the MCU came calling, because “It’s nice to be the good guy for a change” while also making it crystal clear that Lalo and Jack are completely different characters.
In Hawkeye, writers played their cards close to their chest as the series took its time to reveal its real villain, Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin, practically waiting until the finale to bring back Daredevil’s nemesis. This meant Dalton’s character served as a decoy antagonist who raised Kate Bishop’s suspicions from the start, although in the end, he proved to be a powerful ally just like in Marvel Comics.
Dalton names Harrison Ford as another example of an actor traditionally associated with good guy roles, but who gets to showcase an entirely new side of him in What Lies Beneath. Even if the Swordsman’s good anime is ultimately cleared in Hawkeye, Duquesne does possess a lot of the same charm Lalo has in Better Call Saul, only without the murderous scenes that usually unfold when the Salamancas are around.
Lalo recently met his end at the hands of another classy Breaking Bad villain when he was gunned down by Gus Fring, though Dalton's performance should see him book similarly coveted gigs in the near future. For now, it seems like Dalton’s MCU future is tied to Kate Bishop and whether Hailee Steinfeld will return in Echo, Daredevil: Born Again, the Thunderbolts, a second season of Hawkeye, or a Young Avengers project Marvel Studios still has wrapped under the table.
Source: Discussing Film