As the public prepares to defy gravity and take flight with EvilThe Jim Henson Creature Shop is ready to resurrect another classic sympathetic villain: Grendel. Whether it's Cruella de Vil, Maleficent, Loki, or the Wicked Witch of the West, Hollywood has repeatedly sought to redeem the villains audiences love to hate. While this may seem like a more recent trend or evolution in storytelling, the concept of the sympathetic antagonist has been around much longer than many people realize. Although Grendel It wasn't the first story to give a villain a starring role, it played a crucial role in paving the way for many modern narratives that audiences enjoy today. Like both Evil AND Grendel are ready for their Hollywood treatments, each ready to challenge how audiences perceive their antagonistic protagonists, it might just be Grendel This proves to be the adaptation worth paying attention to.
A myth as enduring as Hercules, Beowulf is one of the most influential and enduring heroic tales ever recorded. As an Old English epic poem, Beowulf is believed to have pagan origins, with scholars speculating that the story was passed down orally for generations before finally being written down. The oldest surviving version of Beowulf It dates back to between 975 and 1025 AD, making it one of the most studied and translated literary texts. Over the centuries, scholars have debated its symbolism, cultural significance, and origins, adding to its rich legacy. The poem itself follows the Geat champion, Beowulf, and his series of battles across Europe, including rescuing the Danish king Hrothgar from the supposedly evil monster Grendel, defending the kingdom from Grendel's vengeful mother, and ultimately dying after defeating a dragon. As one of the most frequently adapted works of literature, Of Beowulf The story endures to this day, continuing to entertain, inspire, and shape how we understand the evolution of heroism in human culture.
How Grendel Created Sympathy for One of History's Oldest Villains
In literature, there has always been a fascination with villains, with people trying to understand or even sympathize with them. The complex philosophies, plans, and backstories have created a morbid fascination that has tempted audiences to wonder if the figures they are supposed to hate are the wrong ones. Exemplified by classic works such as John Milton's tale of the fall of Lucifer, Paradise Lostthe concept of challenging perspectives is nothing new. However, long before the Wicked Witch of the West gained her redemption in EvilIt was in 1971 that a novel was published that re-examined perhaps one of humanity's most basic conceptions of good and evil, of person and beast, of hero and villain. Grendel It did not break new ground, but it paved the way for an easier path, allowing the public to see things from a different perspective.
As the longest Old English epic poem,
Beowulf
a length of 3,182 lines was measured.
Written by John Gardner, Grendel follows the events of Beowulfthough the once most important warrior plays a much smaller part in this retelling. In the opening chapters, readers are introduced to Grendel, an introspective and philosophical creature, and his mute, monstrous mother. As in the original story, Grendel attacks Hrothgar's mead hall but reflects on his childhood and early encounters with humans. As the story progresses, Grendel becomes fascinated by a blind narrator, whom he calls “the Shaper.” The Shaper's poetic tales of heroism and fictional history captivate Grendel, sparking a conflict over his identity and the world around him. Grendel later speaks with a dragon whose nihilistic philosophy deeply influences him. After this encounter, Grendel gains a form of invulnerability, allowing him to wreak havoc in Hrothgar's mead hall when its inhabitants attack him, the monster mocks human notions of heroism, even depriving a warrior of his desired heroic death. The novel spans years of Grendel's attacks, showing how his actions shape Hrothgar's kingdom and his politics, ultimately leading to his fateful confrontation with Beowulf. When Beowulf finally arrives, Grendel sees the hero as mad, but during their bloody battle, Grendel questions his very existence and purpose. As he dies, perhaps on his own terms, Grendel wonders if he has found happiness.
Grendelone of many award-winning and celebrated novels, it has inspired various adaptations since its publication in the 1970s. It has been made into an opera, a 17-minute composition by the British band Marillion, and a limited-release animated film. While Beowulf has seen multiple adaptations for the big screen, only in 2024 was Gardner's released Grendel received its first major film adaptation. Featuring the talents of Jim Henson's Creature Shop, Jeff Bridges (of The Big Lebowski fame) like Grendel and Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) as Beowulf, this new film aims to bring the legend to life like never before.
How Grendel Offers More Than Wicked, Cruella, and Other Modern Reimaginings
Stories like Maleficent, CruellaAND Evil have made the misunderstood villain a commonplace. Often marketed as “untold stories,” they have ironically become some of the most popular interpretations of The Wonderful Wizard of Ozcomics and Disney classics. What started as a novelty has now evolved into a trend, with villains ranging from comically evil to so redeemable they risk becoming banal. As Evil makes its theatrical debut, highlights what Hollywood produces with villain-driven narratives, what audiences expect, and how Jim Henson Grendel film can stand out amid an oversaturation of sympathetic antiheroes. After all, if a hero is only as good as his villain, it begs the question: What does it mean when villains become as justified as heroes?
In addition to a catchy soundtrack, the next Evil the film doesn't offer much that Marvel or Disney haven't already overdone. At this point, audiences are rooting for Loki, despite his attempt to enslave the planet; Maleficent has gone from “mistress of evil” to tragic figure, and Cruella is less a ruthless fashion designer and more the ultimate fashion victim. While some of these villain reimaginings, like Joker AND LokiThey handle their subjects well, others seem forced and overstated, as seen with Cruella AND The Star Wars Acolyte. Evil tells an emotionally charged story, but it's pretty standard fare for a villain's redemption arc: an outcast demonized for his looks, opinions, and talents, leaving open the question of whether they were truly evil in the first place. It's a familiar narrative that recent characters, like Magneto in X-Men '97have arguably explored better with more nuance and complexity. While Elphaba's story is compelling, it raises the question of whether Hollywood is simply rehashing the same premise instead of challenging audiences with a more ambitious narrative.
Until Grendel It concerns both the novel and the original Beowulf story have long sparked deeper discussions about culture, religion, and existentialism. Gardner himself has admitted to being inspired by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, which is why the protagonist's search for emotional fulfillment and spiritual meaning resonates so powerfully, even today. There's a bitter irony in the fact that Grendel, so fascinated by the Shaper's stories and desperate for connection, becomes the villain only to experience all of this. In an interview with Collider, Grendel director Robert D. Krzykowski has promised a more “cerebral” adaptation, hinting at a deeper exploration of the villain archetype and how he perceives the world. While the Evil the film may offer moments of tears, singing and some commentary on the politics of Oz, Grendel offers a more substantial narrative, better use of the narrator, and a more compelling exploration of the search for companionship and meaning.
Why Jim Henson's Grendel Is Something to Look Forward to
The Dark Crystal, LabyrinthAND The narrator were ambitious projects that ventured beyond the familiar worlds of the Muppets and Open sesameThese were passion projects for Jim Henson and the many who followed in his footsteps, designed to push the boundaries of storytelling and puppetry. Grendel seems to echo those darker, bolder films, driven by a love of innovation and a desire to create something truly different. Hollywood could benefit from the late Jim Henson's spirit of creativity and spectacle in an industry increasingly dependent on familiar characters, gimmicks and tropes. Blending humor and horror, fantasy and practical effects, Grendel could revive the essence of those cult classics and offer the kind of story its protagonist would likely have enjoyed. The best works of Jim Henson and his successors were often strange and daring projects that didn't receive the recognition they initially deserved. Ironically, like Grendel, they too were searching for a place to belong, a world in which they could be understood.
JRR Tolkien, author of
The Hobbit
AND
The Lord of the Rings,
he was known to have a fondness for
Beowulf
.
As debates about right and wrong, good and evil, and mercy versus punishment continue in literature, it is important to remember how stories evolve. The power of a storyteller is remarkable: how perspectives change, ideas spread, and inspiration takes hold. Whether it is Evil, Grendel, MaleficentOR Cruellaa lesson from Beowulf that has survived the centuries is that it is ultimately up to humanity to choose the heroes it supports, the values it holds dear, and the legacy it leaves behind.