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Friday, November 27
Is there another actor with the luck streak Chris Hemsworth is currently enjoying? After playing the role of Captain Kirk's father in J.J. Abrams's Star Trek, Hemsworth grabbed the title role in Thor.
However, Abrams told MTV that Hemsworth almost lost the role to Matt Damon.
I went to Damon for the role of Kirk's father, and he declined in the most gracious and understandable and logical of reasons. Maybe it would have been distracting to have someone as massively famous as Matt Damonst in that role.... The decision was made very early on to have actors who were not necessarily the most famousbut the most right for the role. We lucked out with Chris Hemsworth, and he did a great job.
Without Star Trek, it's doubtful Hemsworth would have landed the Thor gig. Here's hoping he gave thanks yesterday that that Damon had "reasons" to turn down the role.
Posted 11/27/2009 by Ryan
Related: Matt Damon | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek | Thor | Chris Hemsworth
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The Hurt Locker's Jeremy Renner was once vying for the role of Mad Max in Fury Road, but lost out to Tom Hardy. However, Renner may land an iconic role in The Avengers and Thor instead. Renner told Empire that Marvel is talking to him about playing archer hero Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye.
Hawkeye could be interesting. [Marvel's]going to send me some stuff on it, see what it is. But I think they'repretty awesome, trying to make superhero movies almost plausible andnot just some fantasy thing.
Renner would apparently make a cameo appearance in Thor and have a larger part in The Avengers. The casting is still unofficial.
Posted 11/27/2009 by Ryan
Related: Jeremy Renner | Thor | The Avengers
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Tuesday, November 24
Natalie Portman recently explained that she was compelled to join Thor because the Kenneth Branagh-directed movie seemed "super weird." Now she's dropping Thor casting news to MTV.
Well I'm really excited. Kat Dennings [(Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, the upcoming Defendor)] is going to be in it with me and she's a good friend and an amazing actress, so I'm looking forward to that.
What role Dennings will play is unknown. A casting notice found in October mentions the role of college student Marcy Lewis, who interns with a scientist and "deals with her situation both by using subtle irony and by being an overt wiseass." Considering Portman's casting as nurse Jane Foster, coupled with Portman's enthusiasm over Dennings' casting, the role of Marcy could be a potential lock.
Thor starts production in mid-January and has filled out an impressive cast of newcomers and Academy-Award winners, including Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Jaimie Alexander, Ray Stevenson, Stuart Townsend, Tadanobu Asano, and recent addition Idris Elba.
Next Showing: Thor opens May 20, 2011
Posted 11/24/2009 by Ryan
Related: Kat Dennings | Natalie Portman | Thor
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Sunday, November 22
Director Kenneth Branagh has assembled an all-star cast for his production of Thor. Though the lead role went to a relative unknown in Chris Hemsworth, Branagh has surrounded the Star Trek actor with such top talents as Academy Award-nominated actress Natalie Portman and Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins.
While out promoting Brothers, Portman told SuperHeroHype that the opportunity to work with the multiple Academy Award-nominated director wasreason enough to consider Thor.
I just thought it sounded like a weird idea because Kenneth Branagh's directing it, so I was just like, "Kenneth Branagh doing Thor is super-weird. I've gotta do it."
Other Thor cast members include Tom Hiddleston,Jaimie Alexander, Ray Stevenson, Stuart Townsend, Tadanobu Asano, and the most recent addition, Idris Elba. Thor is scheduled to begin filming in January.
Next Showing: Thor opens May 20, 2011
Posted 11/22/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Anthony Hopkins | Natalie Portman | Kenneth Branagh | Thor | Brothers
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Friday, November 20
Thor, which starts production in mid-January, seems to be on the fast track to complete its casting. Earlier this week, director Kenneth Branagh and Marvel cast the Warriors Three, and today, THR reports that Idris Elba has joined the cast as Heimdall, the guardian of Asgard.
While the cast is coming together, the cameo role for Stan Lee isn't. Lee Told MTV that he has met with Branagh, but a cameo role has not been chosen yet.
I had lunch with Branagh, [who's] the nicest guy in the world as well as the most talented. Months ago, when he was first starting on the movie, he said he would get a cameo for me. When we had lunch, I was sure he had asked me to lunch because he wanted me to play Odin, [Thor's father, a role Anthony Hopkins will be playing] but it was a big disappointment. I figure I'll end up carrying his spear.
Once Lee does get his cameo lined up, he'll get to visit the set like Marvel comics writer Brian Michael Bendis did. He used his Twitter account to tell fans about his on set experience.
Broadcasting live from marvel west. Thor movie meeting with Ken branagh was over the top amazing. Visited the sets! I was in Odin's chamber!
Posted 11/20/2009 by Ryan
Related: Stan Lee | Idris Elba | Kenneth Branagh | Thor
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Tuesday, November 17
Variety reports that Ray Stevenson (Punisher: War Zone), Stuart Townsend (Queen of the Damned), and Tadanobu Asano (Mongol) have been cast in Thor as The Warriors Three, a trio of Asgardian adventurers and friends of Thor.
Stevenson will play the boisterous Volstagg the Valiant, a character based on William Shakespeare's Falstaff, while Townsend will play the swashbuckling Fandral the Dashing, originally based on actor Errol Flynn. Asano will play the pessimistic Hogun the Grim, who is often the voice of reason for the trio.
Thor starts production in mid-January, with direction by Kenneth Branagh. Chris Hemsworth stars as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, and Anthony Hopkins plays Thor's father, Odin.
Next Showing: Thor opens May 20, 2011
Posted 11/17/2009 by Ryan
Related: Tadanobu Asano | Stuart Townsend | Ray Stevenson | Thor
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Monday, November 16
Thor starts production in mid-January, which means that there is still plenty of time to prepare for the movie. That's exactly what Jaimie Alexander is doing in order to make it through what promises to be a strenuous shoot. Playing the role of the Asgardian warrior Sif, Alexander used her Twitter account to alert fans that she was under-going some intensive stunt-training.
1st day of stunt training for Thor... kinda nervous :)
wow.......that was pretty dang tough....but a s**t ton of fun!!!! :) :) need to sit in an ice bath for year.....am beyond SORE!
is off to train :) getting so much stronger!!! :)
is gearing up for a full week of stunts! :) I LOVE MY JOB!
In the comic books, Sif is a love interest of Thor's. However, Natalie Portman has been cast as Thor's human love interest, Jane Foster. If Alexander's Tweets are any guide, it looks like Sif will be doing more fighting than romancing.
Next Showing: Thor opens May 20, 2011
Posted 11/16/2009 by Ryan
Related: Thor | Jaimie Alexander
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Saturday, November 14
The nerd-spy TV series Chuck faced down cancellation and came out victorious, even adding six more episodes to the thirteen already on order for its third season. Unfortunately, there was one casualty: series star Zachary Levi was forced to turn down an offer to play Fandral, one of the "Warrior's Three," in director Kenneth Branagh's live-action adaptation of the Thor comic book series, set to begin filming in January.
According to USA Weekend, the addition of six episodes caused a scheduling conflict that prevented Levi from accepting the role. Levi said that he had actually been asked to try out for the title role of the God of Thunder, as well, but declined.
I'm tall and in pretty good shape, but I'm not big and girthy like that.
Thor stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, and Anthony Hopkins as Thor's father, Odin.
Next Showing: Thor is scheduled to open May 20, 2011
Posted 11/14/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Anthony Hopkins | Zachary Levi | Thor | Chris Hemsworth
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Friday, November 13
ProductionWeekly used its Twitter account to announce that Thor was heading in front of the cameras early next year.
Filming on Marvel's Thor is scheduled to begin in LA mid-January, then move to Santa Fe, New Mexico from March till late-April.
Ending the shoot in late April gives Kenneth Branagh and company a full year of post-production to make sure Thor is ready for its current May 20, 2011, release date. (Originally, it was set for a July 16, 2010 release.)
Thor follows the god of thunder as he is banished to Earth when his reckless behavior re-ignites an ancient war. Once on Earth, he must learn the true meaning of a hero as he fights the dark forces of Asgard that have invaded his new planet. Thor, along with Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The First Avenger will help set the table for Marvel's 2011 production, The Avengers.
Posted 11/13/2009 by Ryan
Related: Kenneth Branagh | Thor
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Friday, October 30
THR reports that Anthony Hopkins is in negotiations to play Odin in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Thor. This contradicts earlier reports that Branagh-regular Brian Blessed was cast in that role.
Odin is the ruler of Asgard and father to both Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). In Thor, the Norse god of thunder finds himself cast out of Asgard and banished to Earth after his reckless actions re-ignite an ancient war. There he will learn how to become a hero when Earth is attacked by the dark forces of Asgard.
Hopkins can be seen in Woody Allen's upcoming You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger in the fall of 2010 and in The Wolfman on February 12, 2010 — that is, unless the release date changes yet again.
Next Showing: Thor opens May 20, 2011
Posted 10/30/2009 by Ryan
Related: Anthony Hopkins | Brian Blessed | Thor