| This article is about Wilford from Snowpiercer (film). You may be looking for Joseph Wilford from TV series. |
| “ | You know everyone has their own preordained role to the system. | ” |
| — Wilford's second to last line. | ||
Wilford is the main antagonist of Snowpiercer. He was a businessman and inventor who owned and ran the Snowpiercer, a globe-trotting train where the last remnants of humanity reside. The train was built and developed by Wilford Industries, a railroad corporation which he also owned and ran until the events of The Freeze.
He is portrayed by Ed Harris.
History
Background
Wilford is the conductor of the train, a calm and ingratiating leader, who wears a robe and eats steak in his luxurious front car. While he uses child labor to run the engine and kills his less wealthy passengers to maintain the class hierarchy on the train.
Throughout the Film
When Curtis and Minsoo arrived at the car before the Eternal Engine. Wilford ordered Claude to shoot Minsoo and force Curtis to have a meal with him. Curtis and Wilford had a medium rare steak. Wilford told Curtis that the front and the tail are supposed to work together and how he and Gilliam planned "The Great Curtis Revolution" together, although the original plan is that the revolution would end at the Yekaterina Bridge, but Curtis managed to make it farther than he thought.
Wilford also revealed that he had been writing the messages hidden in the Protein bars this whole time. He asked Curtis to be in charge of the train instead of him, as he is old and can't continue the job. After that, Yona ran into the Eternal Engine and discovered that Tim was working under the car. Wilford told Curtis that even though Snowpiercer is perpetual, but the parts isn't. So they need working human to keep the train going manually, but since the space is very small so it only allows young children to work. That's why he seek small children in the first place. Curtis angrily punched Wilford right in the face several times.
When Curtis stopped the Engine with one of his arm, Andy would still keep the engine going without listening to Curtis. Wilford, watching helplessly, told Curtis how every one has their own position. Wilford would witness the last part where Minsoo and Curtis shielded Tim and Yona from the explosion which derailed the train.
Personality
He believes that what he is doing is benevolent. He is the prototypical image of a fascist dictator, a powerful figurehead who is cocooned from the violence and destruction he creates. As a sociopath, he is incapable of empathy and indifferent to the suffering around him.
Skills and Abilities
- Genius-like Intellect - Wilford is a brilliant inventor who designed and created the Eternal Engine - a machine that could run forever without fuel, something that violates the laws of physics and is supposed to be completely impossible to build. This Engine was used to power the train in its entirety, allowing it to run non-stop for seven years until it was derailed and destroyed.
Relationship
Gilliam
Gilliam and Wilford are close friends and planned the whole revolution. The both would do "late nights phone chats" together. According to Wilford, Gilliam could go on hours, all with only one arm. However, despite their supposed friendship, Wilford does not seem to care much about Gilliam, as he nonchalantly ordered his execution when the revolution did not go according to plan and caused numerous deaths of front-seat passengers.
Curtis Everett
Wilford thought highly of Curtis, despite him being a mere tail section passenger, for leading the most successful revolution in the Snowpiercer's history. As he intended for Curtis to take his place as the owner of the train, he was very polite to him, inviting him for dinner in the Engine Room as he persuades him to become his successor.
Appearances
| The Tail | The Drawers | Protein Block Processing Room |
Passing Yekaterina Bridge |
Water Supply Section |
| M | M | |||
| Ag-Sec, Aquarium | Classroom | Sauna | The Eternal Engine | Out of the train |
| M | M | ✔/D | ||
| ✔ = Appeared | M = Mentioned | D = Deceases | ||
Memorable Quotes
WIP
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