Hopefully, the Doom Patrol remembers to say something nice.
Deadline is reporting that the HBO Max series Doom Patrol, based on the DC Comics superteam, has cast Michelle Gomez as the supervillain Madame Rouge.
According to the article, Gomez will be a series regular for the show's upcoming third season, with Madame Rouge described as "the DC Universe’s complicated and electrifying eccentric, who arrives at Doom Manor with a very specific mission…if only she could remember it."
Madame Rouge's introduction also hints at the appearance of the Doom Patrol's archenemies the Brotherhood of Evil, which included Madame Rouge as a member. Previously, the Season 1 episode "Penultimate Patrol", featured a flashback to the 1940s with Eric Morden, the future Mr. Nobody, telling his girlfriend Milly that he was fired from the Brotherhood of Evil by The Brain and replaced with an intelligent, French gorilla (Monsieur Mallah).
Gomez, 54, is best known as Missy, the first female incarnation of The Master, on the BBC series Doctor Who, and as Lilith/Madam Satan on the Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She's also appeared in episodes of Gotham, The Flight Attendant, DuckTales (2020), Bad Education, and Highlander: The Raven.
Created in 1964 by Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani, Madame Rouge first appeared in Doom Patrol (vol.1) #86 as Laura De Mille, a French stage actress. After an automobile accident, she developed a dual good/evil split personality. At this point, she attracted the notice of The Brain and his associate Monsieur Mallah. With Mallah's help, the Brain performed surgery on De Mille that was, from his perspective, successful, sublimating her good personality and allowing her evil personality to remain dominant. As Madame Rouge, De Mille became the only female member of the Brotherhood of Evil, and assisted the Brotherhood in its continuing conflicts against the Doom Patrol. At first, Madame Rouge was simply a master of disguise; subsequent surgery by the Brain eventually gave her the ability to alter her appearance and stretch her limbs.
Later, Rouge's split personality manifested again, with her good personality occasionally appearing. Rouge was romantically linked to the Doom Patrol's leader, Niles Caulder, The Chief, who was able to help Rouge overcome her evil side and ally with the Doom Patrol. Ultimately, Rouge's mind reverted to its evil state, causing her to seek vengeance against both the Brotherhood of Evil and the Doom Patrol for their previous interference. She was apparently successful in murdering both groups.
Years later, surviving Doom Patrol member Robotman and the Teen Titans tracked down Rouge and her ally, General Zahl. Beast Boy (then known as Changeling) killed Rouge, although at the moment of her death, her good side apparently manifested. She forgave Changeling and called to Niles, her apparent true love.
Gomez will be the first actress to portray Madame Rouge in live-action, although the character has appeared in the animated series Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go! (voiced by Hynden Walch), and the DC Nation Doom Patrol animated short "The Spy Within the Doom Patrol" (voiced by Debra Wilson).
Doom Patrol is expected to return to HBO Max for Season 3 sometime in late 2021.
