Recast arch-villainous dramatis personae (10)

I believe the answer is:

characters

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'personae' is the definition.
('character' can be a synonym of 'persona')

'recast arch-villainous dramatis' is the wordplay.
'recast arch' can be anagrammed to 'CHARACTERS'.
Though, I'm unsure how this is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for characters that I've seen before include "Persons in a play/book" , "Signs" , "Roles; letters" , "Eccentrics" , "eccentric people?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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