Talk about your “I did not see this one coming,” Sir Anthony Hopkins will play the one-eyed father of Thor, Odin, in the Kenneth Branagh’s big-screen adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Thor.
For those unfamiliar with Norse mythology or Marvel comics, Odin is the All-Father, the head of the Asgardian Gods whose task is to prevent Ragnarok at all costs. Tired of his son’s ever-growing ego, he casts Thor to the mortal realm, linking him to physician Donald Blake in an attempt to force upon the thunder god some much-needed humility.
If the rumors are true, Hopkins will round out an already stellar cast including Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek and the upcoming Red Dawn remake) playing the title character, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Jaimie Alexander as Sif, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Samuel L. Jackson may possibly reprise his role as Nick Fury in a cameo.
The news of Hopkins’ casting comes on the heels of recent rumors that Robert De Niro and Jude Law were set to play as-yet unnamed roles in the movie. Those rumors have now been denied. Let’s hope that Hopkins will be the real thing because I can’t think of a better actor to portray Odin.
