Thought about the villain question, and can't much help. Partly because it's so difficult for an absolutely thoroughgoing villain - as opposed to a mere anti-hero or antagonist - to remain likeable, or even interesting, without stepping outside his box a bit. Evil or even mere wickedness unmodified is head-thumpingly boring, even given quirks or lumps of irrelevant niceness.
And Hollywood is seldom very subtle.
Tanith Lee's Azhrarn, Night's Master from her Flat Earth books, might come nearest to what you're looking for; but hell's going to freeze over before any beggar films one!
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Thought about the villain question, and can't much help. Partly because it's so difficult for an absolutely thoroughgoing villain - as opposed to a mere anti-hero or antagonist - to remain likeable, or even interesting, without stepping outside his box a bit. Evil or even mere wickedness unmodified is head-thumpingly boring, even given quirks or lumps of irrelevant niceness.
And Hollywood is seldom very subtle.
Tanith Lee's Azhrarn, Night's Master from her Flat Earth books, might come nearest to what you're looking for; but hell's going to freeze over before any beggar films one!