Marvel Studios has made huge head way with it’s next superhero flick, Thor. They have cast Australian actor Chris Hemsworth to play the God of Thunder and Kenneth Branagh is set to direct. The film is set for a May 20, 2011 release.
Marvel has been on the hunt for an actor with the athleticism and acting chops to pull off one of the more unusual superheroes in the company’s pantheon. Final points of Hemsworth’s deal were still being wrapped up over the weekend.
A Norse god, Thor develops a protective affinity for humans after his father Odin banishes him to Earth, in order to teach him a lesson in humility. From then on, he’s often seen wielding his massive hammer and fighting alongside the Avengers (comprised of Iron Man, the Hulk and Captain America). In the comics mortal Donald Blake becomes Thor when he wields Mjolnir, Thor’s might hammer.
While there are many stories to pull from in the comics, no word on exactly what the film we include has been announced.
Hemsworth is also set to play the character in Marvel’s planned Avengers team-up film in 2012.
Hemsworth is staring in MGM’s upcoming Cabin in the Woods, and was also just cast in that studio’s remake of Red Dawn as Jed Eckert, the role originally played by Patrick Swayze in 1984. Hemsworth was most recently seen in Star Trek playing Capt. Kirk’s father.
Kenneth Branagh who has directed many Shakespeare films such as Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing and one of the better versions of Hamlet to come out in a long time seems a perfect choice to bring the larger than life attitude of the Norse God to life.
Source: Variety
