Loki

Thor

Chris Hemsworth has been cast as the title character in Kenneth Branagh’s big screen adaptation of Marvel’s Thor. Hemsworth will also be playing the mythic comic book character in the Summer 2012 superhero team-up film The Avengers.

You might be wondering, “Who the hell is Chris Hemsworth?” While you might not recognize his name, you saw him on the big screen last weekend in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek as George Kirk. Some of my critic friends had a big problem with Hemsworth’s performance in the opening sequence, but I did not.

Nikki Finke reports that Marvel and Branagh made the final decision earlier today after reviewing Hemsworth’s test footage, which was described as “Oh my god.” Chris is currently in production on the Joss Whedon-written Drew Goddard-directed horror film The Cabin in the Woods. The Australian actor was also just cast as the lead role in MGM’s Red Dawn remake last week.

He’s a virtual unknown in the United States, but he was a star on a successful television series back in Oz (171 episodes of Home and Away) and was on the 2006 Australian version of Dancing with the Stars.

Written by Mark Protosevich, the story has been described as being “like a superhero origin story, but not one about a human gaining super powers, but of a god realizing his true potential. It’s the story of an Old Testament god who becomes a New Testament god”.

Marvel will self-finance the production, and the film will be distributed by Paramount Pictures. Marvel has announced a June 17th 2011 release date for the film.

Samuel L. Jackson may not be the only actor signing a long-term deal to appear in multiple Marvel Studios films. With actor crossovers already occurring between “Iron Man” and “Hulk” cast members, and Jackson’s character Nick Fury set to show up in as many as nine of Marvel’s upcoming projects, there is a clear plan in play to establish characters with overlapping timelines and continuity across upcoming projects like “Iron Man 2” and “The Avengers,” among others.

Now, Marvel has confirmed that the big villain of 2011’s “Thor” could be one such character.

“Loki has those aspects,” Marvel’s president of production Kevin Feige said at a Marvel Studios presentation Sunday, according to FirstShowing.net. Thor’s classic nemesis, being played in the new movie by Tom Hiddleston, was also one of the first enemies to plague The Avengers in their regular comic book series, so it stands to reason that he would be under consideration to play big role in the evolving world of their films.

Additionally, Feige revealed that the Kenneth Branaugh-directed “Thor” movie would take place on both Earth and Asgard. So comics fans can expect to see Thor, who will be played by Chris Hemsworth, as well as Odin (possibly being played by Brian Blessed?), traversing the worlds of mortals and Norse gods alike.

Feige was quoted as saying that Marvel’s extended lineup of films is “ordered this way for a reason,” implying that some significant thought has been put into how ongoing storylines will be evolving.

Which Marvel characters and movie actors are you most interested to see meet face-to-face in future releases? Are you glad to hear that Loki is being looked at as a potential recurring villain? Sound off in the comment section below!

Samuel L. Jackson may not be the only actor signing a long-term deal to appear in multiple Marvel Studios films. With actor crossovers already occurring between “Iron Man” and “Hulk” cast members, and Jackson’s character Nick Fury set to show up in as many as nine of Marvel’s upcoming projects, there is a clear plan in play to establish characters with overlapping timelines and continuity across upcoming projects like “Iron Man 2” and “The Avengers,” among others.

Now, Marvel has confirmed that the big villain of 2011’s “Thor” could be one such character.

“Loki has those aspects,” Marvel’s president of production Kevin Feige said at a Marvel Studios presentation Sunday, according to FirstShowing.net. Thor’s classic nemesis, being played in the new movie by Tom Hiddleston, was also one of the first enemies to plague The Avengers in their regular comic book series, so it stands to reason that he would be under consideration to play big role in the evolving world of their films.

Additionally, Feige revealed that the Kenneth Branaugh-directed “Thor” movie would take place on both Earth and Asgard. So comics fans can expect to see Thor, who will be played by Chris Hemsworth, as well as Odin (possibly being played by Brian Blessed?), traversing the worlds of mortals and Norse gods alike.

Feige was quoted as saying that Marvel’s extended lineup of films is “ordered this way for a reason,” implying that some significant thought has been put into how ongoing storylines will be evolving.

Which Marvel characters and movie actors are you most interested to see meet face-to-face in future releases? Are you glad to hear that Loki is being looked at as a potential recurring villain? Sound off in the comment section below!

I don't know unless they change the costume, this is just going to tank. It's such ridiculous idea. I just don't think its a good comic character to bring to the screen.

lazycrockett said:

if they do it right it would work. though it would be a great way to gauge the success of a WW movie.

ehuffnsd said:

I can't wait to see Thor take on the Hulk in the Avengers movie.