Michael Fassbender is a man of many talents. So many, in fact, that he tends to disappear into roles completely. Sometimes people are hard-pressed to name more than three films in which Fassbender has starred. This might be the reason that he's now 39 (as of April 2, 2016) and an Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominee, but it definitely took a while for Fassbender to truly gain international attention. In 2001, he appeared in the star-powered miniseries Band of Brothers, yet his stellar performance went relatively unnoticed. It wasn't until Fassbender's four star-making performances in films that were all released in 2011 that people truly started to take notice. That was the year he appeared in something for everyone: Jane Eyre, Shame, A Dangerous Method, and X-Men: First Class.
Fassbender's versatility is truly mesmerizing, which is why taking a visual trip through his film canon can leave you feeling like you need to rewatch one or several of his movies — almost as if for the very first time. In honor of said versatility, we decided to prepare a little quiz that we call "Something Fassbender This Way Comes."
The premise is simple: Guess the Michael Fassbender role and movie based on just a close-up of his character's face. Can you do it? Click on through to find out.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: 300 (2006)
In 300, Fassbender plays Stelios, a Spartan warrior. Even though he famously lost 40 pounds to play Bobby Sands in Hunger, Fassbender has said that gaining muscle to play Stelios was more physically demanding. We very much appreciate his dedication to the role.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Angel (2007)
In Angel, Fassbender plays Esmé, an artist with whom the title character, Angel, falls in love while she’s pursuing her dream of becoming a writer.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Hunger (2008)
In Hunger, Fassbender plays Bobby Sands. The film is based on the true story of Provisional IRA member Sands’ 1981 hunger strike against the conditions in HM Prison Maze in Northern Ireland. His strike lasted 66 days. He passed away on May 5, 1981.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Eden Lake (2008)
Yes, even Michael Fassbender has a low-budget horror movie on his CV. In the terrifying Eden Lake. Fassbender plays Steve, a man just trying to enjoy a holiday with his girlfriend at a remote lake in the English countryside when they are terrorized by a rowdy gang of teenagers.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Fish Tank (2009)
The trailer doesn’t paint quite the accurate picture of what really happens in Fish Tank. The movie follows disaffected Mia (Katie Jarvis), a 15-year-old who’s been thrown out of school in Essex, England, and has no interests besides dancing. Her life changes when her mother’s boyfriend Connor (Fassbender) starts paying attention to Mia in a way that no one ever has before. Whether it’s for better or worse, well, you just have to watch and see.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Fassbender gets to show off his polyglot skills as Lt. Archie Hicox in Tarantino’s World War II-set revenge fantasy.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Blood Creek (2009)
All you need to know about this Third Reich occult movie is that Fassbender’s character ends up looking like this.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Centurion (2010)
Yup, Michael Fassbender has yet another swords-and-sandals flick with intensely stylized visuals under his belt.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Jonah Hex (2010)
Fassbender’s character Burke is basically a Joker proxy and the lone highlight in this clunker of a comic book adaptation. Burke is a roguishly evil sadist who’s kind of a precursor to Fassbender’s turn from Erik Lehnsherr into Magneto in X-Men: First Class.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Jane Eyre (2011)
Fassbender gives new life to the classic Byronic hero opposite Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre under Cary Fukunaga’s (True Detective) direction.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: X-Men: First Class (2011)
The blockbuster origin story of Professor X (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Fassbender) delights audiences and critics alike, and paints a more complex portrait of the man who can bend metal and wants mutants to rule over humans.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: A Dangerous Method (2011)
Fassbender plays Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology who butts heads with Sigmund Freud (here played by Viggo Mortensen) and embarks on an affair with Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), who is also assisting Jung and Freud with their research.
What Michael Fassender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Shame (2011)
Chances are, you’ve heard about Shame. Fassbender bares all (and heard about it at every single award show that season) to star as Brandon, a sex addict living in New York City.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Haywire (2011)
Fassbender plays Paul, an MI6 agent tasked with taking out a hitwoman until she shows him what’s up.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Prometheus (2012)
Fassbender is David, the robot for whom things don’t work out so well in the end. He’s a machine; though, they can rebuild him for the sequels.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Fassbender received a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination for his role as the mercilessly cruel plantation owner Edwin Epps, who thinks he has a biblical right to beat his slaves.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: The Counselor (2013)
Also known as the movie where Cameron Diaz has sex with a car. Fassbender plays The Counselor. His character never actually gets another name.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Frank (2014)
Fassbender steps out of his usual dramatic fare and into the titular role in this black comedy about an indie band and its charismatic, mysterious leader who always wears a large prop head.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
This time, he’s Magneto-ing his way through the ‘70s.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Slow West (2015)
In this underrated western, Fassbender plays a mysterious outlaw named Silas who helps a young Scotsman reunite with his lost love on the wild frontier.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Steve Jobs (2015)
The man behind the myths and products that changed the world, as played by Michael Fassbender with a script by Aaron Sorkin.
What Michael Fassbender movie is this?
Answer from previous slide: Macbeth (2015)
Something Fassbender this way comes. All hail Macbeth.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Margot Robbie Gave Alexander Skarsgård A Sex Scene Bruise
Movie Review Roundup: What You Should See This Weekend
The Star Of Everybody Wants Some!! Talks "Average" Cocks & The Art Of Picking Up Chicks