Esposito Shares Heartwarming Fan Encounter

Giancarlo Esposito might appear intimidating, but his goal is to make people feel at ease.

In a recent conversation with The Guardian, Esposito shared an experience with a fan at a convention who was so overwhelmed by meeting him that she couldn’t even make eye contact. "It was a significant moment for her," he recalled, emphasizing that he didn't want to pressure her. Instead of adopting the commanding demeanor of his Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul character Gus Fring, he chose to respond with kindness. "She was just really shy and needed a hug," he said, recounting how he embraced her as she rested her head against him, clearly moved.

Esposito gained prominence in the late 1980s through his roles in acclaimed Spike Lee films like Do the Right Thing and School Daze. He showcased his versatility in movies such as King of New York, The Usual Suspects, and Ali, but he experienced a resurgence in the mid-2010s, often portraying villains.

From the ruthless Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian to the ambitious Stan Edgar in The Boys, and now as a corrupt mayor in Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis, Esposito has excelled in villainous roles. "A guy told me last weekend, ‘Wow, you’re not a big man, but you’re so frightening!’" he remarked, noting that playing such intense characters has made him more aware of his own intensity.

Despite his success as a character actor, Esposito expressed a desire to showcase a wider range. "I want to play a good guy," he told Jimmy Fallon in 2023. He has been considered for roles like Charles Xavier and Magneto in future X-Men projects, saying, "Charles is smart. He's good. But I feel there’s potential for me in the Marvel universe."

Esposito solidified his status as a premier Hollywood villain on September 15, when he shared the stage at the Emmys with Anthony Starr and Kathy Bates, honoring the legacy of small-screen antagonists.

Recently, he was announced as the primary antagonist to Anthony Mackie in the upcoming Marvel film Captain America: Brave New World. "Can I say it? Wow! I can finally unleash it," he told the Comic-Con audience. "I am the King of the Serpent Society. I am Sidewinder!"