I Say Thee Enhanced Public Profile!

Updated on December 2, 2008 By Ken Begg 12 Comments

As Marvel continues it’s grand 6-film plan, its attention naturally begins to focus on the hammer-slinging thunder god Thor.  Iron Man is now established and already a successful film property.  The Hulk not so much, but he can go on the back burner a bit until his appearance in The Avengers movie in 2011. 

With next summer off, 2010 will see the middle pair of the six films, Iron Man 2 and Thor.  Marvel continues, thankfully, to seek top flight talent for these movies, and Kenneth Branagh will direct the film.  Best known for his Shakespearan films, this would seem to indicate that at lest some of the film will take place in Asgard, home of the Norse gods, who in the comics at least speak a sort of mock-Shakespearian fashion.  Branagh could even play a part, maybe Odin, if he wants.  On the other hand, he may have his hands too full directing such a big film.  We’ll see. 

This would allow for Loki (Thor’s malign trickster half-brother) to be introduced as a villain, and to pave the way to his perhaps being behind the formation of The Avengers, as he was in the comic books.  However, that’s all just guesswork.  Meanwhile, no casting clues have been heard, yet, but you’d certainly want a huge, Tyler Mane-esque dude playing Thor.  I’m sure if they can find a wrestler who can act the role he’ll get good consideration.

Thor, however, is not very well known to the non-comic reading public.  (Of course, neither was Iron Man.)  So Marvel is giving him a big push.  In January, they will release on one DVD two short (about 40 minute) films revolving around big Hulk fights; in one, he battles Wolverine (who first appeared in the comics scrapping with the Hulk), and in the other Thor.  That one features the Hulk threatening Asgard itself. 

This will actually be the third TV or movie fight between the Thunder God and the Green Goliath:

Besting the first one is a given; the second one, they have their work cut out for them. Meanwhile, we all await the REAL battle between the two, when their live action counterparts mix it up in The Avengers.

On top of that, Thor will apparently be toplining a new cartoon series, Marvel has announced. If all goes according to plan, this will debut the fall following the film’s release.

I can’t wait to see what they have in store for Captain America.

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  • Brandi

    Brian Blessed so very much needs to be in this somewhere. Possibly as Odin but more likely Volstagg the Voluminous.

  • Ericb

    “I’m sure if they can find a wrestler who can act the role he’ll get good consideration”

    Does the Thor character require the acting chops that a Tony Stark or Bruce Banner requires?

  • It depends. On the face of it, no. Thor should be a fairly uncomplicated character. It depends how they write him, though.

  • But the Thor actor has to be able to blather on in pseudo-Shakespearean without looking like he’s reading a cue card.

  • GalaxyJane

    I would also say it dedpends on if/how much they play up the Dr. Donald Blake angle.

  • GalaxyJane

    That should read depends, sorry.

  • Plissken79

    Thor clearly needs to look Nordic, physically strong, and able to say pseudo-Shakespearan dialogue without looking ridiculous. Therefore, the fact Kevin McKidd from Rome is under serious consideration for the role is excellent news

  • That’s true, actually. Thor has to be bigger than life (somewhere between Captain America–a big dude himself–and the Hulk), but they can use computers to blow the actor up to, say, seven feet tall. Like they do with Robbie Coltrane in the Harry Potter movies.

  • PCachu

    If they need an Odin, they could always have Bob Hoskins reprise the role from Son of the Mask. Not that I’m at all geeked to see Alan Cumming return as Loki, mind you, I just happen to like Hoskins. Much like Gene Hackman, he’s good in anything.

  • David Fullam

    I dearly loved Iron Man and Hulk. They actually got me interested in mainstream American films again. I can’t wait to see where Marvel takes this all to.

  • Man, I hope when you were thinking wrestler, you weren’t thinking Triple H. Sadly, I think Duane Johnson is the only former wrestler with any real acting ability, and he’s not exactly the prototypical Scandanavian strongman.

  • Grumpy

    Kenneth Branagh played Iago. He can play Loki his damn self.

    Of course, he also made “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” and that didn’t work out too well.

    Been a while since I’d seen that “Ultimate Avengers” clip. There were at least six times in as many minutes that Captain America should’ve been pulped. “OK, he’s dead… or not.”