New Villain Marc Warren Talks The Musketeers Season 2 [Exclusive] 

Warning: Major Spoilers Ahead

I’m sad to see Peter Capaldi‘s Cardinal Richelieu go, but I love that Marc Warren‘s Comte de Rochefort is the new big bad this season. I’ve followed his career for a while and he makes a great villain. I spoke exclusively to Marc earlier this week about how he got the role, what we can expect from him and why Rochefort seems so obsessed by the Queen. We do discuss details of the season 2 premiere, so look away now if you don’t want to be spoiled.

TV GOODNESS: How did you hear about the role and what can you tell me about your character?

Marc Warren: “I’d seen the first series and while they were filming I was out in Prague. I had a supper with Tom Burke, who plays Athos, and I expressed an interest and said, ‘If anything ever comes up in it, I’d love to be in it.’ He mentioned that to the producer and they kindly offered me the bad guy for series 2 because Peter Capaldi obviously left to become Doctor Who.

I play the Comte de Rochefort. He’s been in a Spanish prison and he comes back to France; he’s definitely a wrong man. He befriends the King and worms his way into court, a bit like Iago in Othello. And he tries to take over everything.”

TV GOODNESS: I love that Rochefort also has a history with the Queen. When are we going to get more on that?

Marc: “That happens fairly quickly. I think he mentions that in episode 1 and probably starts putting that into play in episode 3. He’s got an obsession with her. I don’t know if that’s giving too much away, but you obviously know about it.”

TV GOODNESS: What else can you tell me about your character and what’s coming up?

Marc: “He’s not good with women. [Laughs.] He’s always strangling people, stabbing people. He’s just very, very manipulative. He gets a prostitute in and dresses her up as the Queen. He just gradually worms his way into court and the King really trusts him. All the time, of course, he’s the enemy of the Musketeers.”

TV GOODNESS: In the premiere it seems like Rochefort is loyal to the Spanish, but perhaps more aptly, Rochefort is loyal to himself. Can you talk about that?

Marc: “In the backstory, he was tortured by the Spanish. The Spanish asked for a ransom from France and France didn’t pay it so Rochefort decided that’s he’d work for the Spanish. I think he’s obsessed by power and revenge and he’s obsessed by the Queen.”

TV GOODNESS: Richelieu and now Rochefort keeping underestimating the Musketeers. What can you tell me about your interactions with them?

Marc: “We tend to see each other in court when the King is telling them off and I’m standing by his side, all imperious. But we never have a lot. They tend to go off and do all the action-y stuff and I’m behind doing all the court stuff and running the politics of the place.”

Edited for space and content.

Season 2 of The Musketeers premieres Saturday, January 17th at 9/8c on BBC America.

“Keep Your Friends Close” episode synopsis, from BBC America:

The Musketeers are sent to retrieve the Comte de Rochefort, the Cardinal’s man in Madrid who has escaped from a Spanish Prison. Rochefort brings news that the chief author of France’s military strategy against Spain, General De Foix, has been captured.

The Musketeers must join forces with Rochefort to rescue De Foix before this critical information falls into the wrong hands, but can Rochefort be trusted, and will the Musketeers succeed against the traps laid for them?

VIDEO

Season 1 recap:

Season 2 trailer:

Tom Burke, Santiago Cabrera, Howard Charles and Luke Pasqualino Talk Marc Warren’s Rochefort:

Inside season 2: