CAST EM': Thor 2

Similar to Iron Man 3, casting will start to ramp up soon for Thor 2 with the production starting this summer. A majority of the original cast will be returning such as Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Anthony Hopkins (Odin), Natalie Portman (Jane), Jaimie Alexander (Sif), Idris Elba (Hemidell), Ray Stevenson (Volstagg), Tadanobu Asano (Hogan) and Josh Dallas (Fendral). Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones) will be directing with a script from Don Payne (Thor, Simpsons) and Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, Falling Skies, Warcraft).

It was revealed by Marvel's Kevin Feige that we'll be seeing the cast of Asgardians doubling in the sequel. With director Alan Taylor mostly known for directing television episodes Marvel might be looking at TV actors to fill new roles. The studio is notoriously tight with paying their actors and Thor 2 could be a stomping ground for rising actors alongside well known ones. I've done this CAST EM' multiple times but it's been updated to compliment director Alan Taylor.

BENJAMIN WALKER AS BALDER THE BRAVE: Balder is one Asgard's greatest warriors and had been wanted for the first film. Artists for the movie had did early costume concepts but the character didn't make the cut. When Thor earns the title of Prince of Midgard and becomes Earth's protector, Balder takes his place in Asgard.

Benjamin Walker was originally in talks to play Hank McCoy (Beast) in X-Men First Class but wouldn't land the role. He did end up getting the lead in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter instead. Walker is a rather bulky actor and seems like he would fit in nicely with the rest of the cast at six foot three inches. Ben has an extensive background in theater, comedy and now action films, a perfect combo. Recently he was cast in Paradise Lost but the Warner Bros. production is currently being delayed.

EMILIA CLARKE AS BRUNHILDE THE VALKYRIE: Valkyrie is one of the best known supporting Asgardians and was involved with the Marvel superhero team Defenders. She's also one of the only female warriors in the realm. It would be nice to see Sif  have competition and someone she can identify with. Brunhilde is also known to have adventures on Earth so she could be great for cameos in other films including Avengers 2.

Emilia Clarke has previously worked with Alan Taylor on two seasons of Game of Thrones. She's a newcomer and hasn't had much experience with films. Marvel would be able to hire her for their minimal fee and Emilia already has an international following because of the series. I'm sure Clarke would jump on the chance to make a film of this scale.

MELANIE LAURENT AS AMORA THE ENCHANTRESS: Amora is a fan favorite and one of the best villains in Thor's rogues gallery. She uses her skills in magic and manipulation to bend others to her will. I could see the character teaming up with Loki to gain power in Asgard. Also, she could be conflicted and jealous of Thor's intentions with the human Jane Foster.

French actress Melanie Laurent is someone I believe could do this role justice. Not just a pretty face this actress can be both dramatic, sweet and vengeful. Her performances in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and this year's The Beginngers have made a large impact on critics. Melanie is an excellent young talent and should be in more event films.

JOE MANGANIELLO AS SKRUGE THE EXECUTIONER: Amora's side-kick and equally as powerful as any other Asgardian, Skruge is another along anticipated character. The Executioner follows Amora like a loyal dog and could be an excellent combatant for Thor. I felt the Destroyer was a terrible villain since it was a faceless object. A villain needs to have dimensions to care about their actions. I would hope that if Skurge is used he isn't just another mindless bruiser.

A lot of fans have been mention stuntmen or wrestlers for this role but I feel Marvel goes the extra mile with casting well known characters. True Blood's Joe Manganiello is my choice and could be a way for him to live out his dreams to play a superhuman. Joe had been a candidate to play Superman in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel but ultimately lost the role. The problem for the casting team is that they'll have to hire someone bigger than Chris Hemsworth which is sort of challenge. Not to mention someone who has an acting background. Joe is around two inches taller than Chris and has slightly more bulk to him. He's also no stranger to the genre playing Flash Thompson in the original Spider-Man film.

CATE BLANCHETT AS HELA: When thinking of who could be as menacing as Colm Feore's Laufey, Tom Hiddleston's Loki or even Anthony Hopkin's Odin, Hela is equally as powerful and threatening. While in the comics it's revealed Hela is Loki's daughter I'm sure it could be changed for the films. In charge of the underworld there have been events where she alines herself with Loki and takes the fight to the gates of Asgard.

When I think of an actress that could carry this booming character it comes down to Cate Blanchett. She is a versatile actress and like Hopkins equally renowned for her performances. She's someone I believe can keep up with the diverse cast and the scene stealing Hiddleston. The only issue could be her involvement in the extensive Hobbit shoot.

Robert Rodat To Do Rewrites On Thor 2 Script

Deadline reports that screenwriter Robert Rodat has been brought on to do some late rewrites on the Thor 2 script before the summer production start in London. It's interesting that Marvel would be pushing rewrites since pre-production I assume is already underway on the Thor sequel. Rodat is best known for writing Saving Private Ryan and The Patriot but was also involved with writing Sam Raimi's adaptation of Warcraft. Rewrites are a common thing, the original Thor film was also written by Don Payne but writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz added to the script in a similar way.

Tom Hiddleston Confirms Thor 2 Shooting This Summer

While doing a web chat with Empire, Tom Hiddleston who plays Loki confirmed a production start for Thor 2. He also again confirms that Alan Taylor will be directing. Here's hoping that new casting announcements start rolling out in the next couple of months. The sequel is set for a November 17th 2013 release date. I'm curious if we'll be seeing any on location shooting in the UK since the production is headed to London.

"And all I know about Thor 2 is that we're supposed to film it in London in the summer and that it's being directed by Alan Taylor."

Marvel Officially Hires Director Alan Taylor For Thor Sequel!

Marvel Studios has finally chosen a new director for Thor 2. Deadline reports Marvel has indeed picked television director Alan Taylor to replace Patty Jenkins (Monster). While I was shocked Jenkins exited the project I think hiring Taylor is a solid move by the studio. Alan has been directing episodes on some of the best shows ever airing on television. Those credits include Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Sopranos, Oz, Mad Men, Rome, West Wing and Deadwood. He's proven to be able to handle large casts which will be needed with the cast of Asgardians more than doubling in the next film. The Thor sequel will be released on November 15th 2013 with production expected to start in fall 2012.

Marvel has left the door open for Patty to perhaps direct another one of their budding franchises in the future. I'm hoping that Marvel ends up using Jenkins for projects like Doctor Strange, Black Panther or even Iron Fist. Since she seems more like the type of director to start a superhero franchise with her own vision, not just to continue another one.

RUMOR: Alan Taylor Front-Runner To Direct Thor 2?

Questionable sources are saying that television director Alan Taylor is now in talks with Marvel Studios to helm Thor 2. Patty Jenkins (Monster) and Brian Kirk (Game of Thrones, Luther) were both involved in different stages before the studio went on another director search. Taylor's name recently came up and seemed like a solid choice considering he's been involved with a bunch of successful series.

His extensive TV directing credits include Oz, The West Wing, Six Feet Under, Deadwood, Lost, Rome, The Sopranos, Mad Men, Nurse Jackie, Bored To Death, Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones. Alan has ran the gamete of almost every genre possible and seems perfect for the multiple layered Marvel cinematic universe. If he doesn't get the Thor 2 gig, Marvel would be smart to nab him for a future project. Pre-production will need to begin soon to meet the projected September production start date.

Patty Jenkins Won't Direct Thor 2

Deadline reports that Monster director Patty Jenkins won't be directing Thor 2. The studio and Patty had a disagreement over creative issues which lead to her exit. However, they state Jenkins could end up directing another one of Marvel's laundry list projects. Marvel will have to move quickly as production is expected to start in September of next year with a release date a little over a year after that date. Giving a director enough time to put together pre-production, set creation and new casting additions. Thor 2 is expected to be a rather large sequel with it's Asgardian population rumored to be doubling in size. Not to mention the fact there has been talk the movie is likely to be set in other realms which is very costly for the studio.

Brian Kirk (Luther, Game of Thrones) had also been in talks with the studio but also left over creative and budget issues. This isn't new for Marvel as the original Thor film went through a similar process to find it's director. Names like Matthew Vaughn and Sam Raimi were once attached to direct before Kenneth Branagh was ultimately hired. Jenkins could better suit a majority of the other projects in development and I'm sure will be back at Marvel in the future.
If Rupert Sanders wasn't busy with Snow White and The Huntsman I would have felt he was the director for the job. The film has a similar scale and tone which also stars Chris Hemsworth.

David Yates Looking To Make Doctor Who Film

ShowBlitz reports that Harry Potter director David Yates is looking to make a new Doctor Who film. Yates is best known as the director of the latter Potter films which include Order of The Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince and The Deathly Hollows 1-2. It's not ready to go just yet as Yates is currently looking at writers and believes the project is two years away from release. The film would be a fresh take and won't be influenced by the television series. This means previous actors are out of the running to play the lead. Yates has been choosing his next film carefully after Potter while he had been linked for some big studios he has yet to announce what is next.


While this is likely a year or so away from casting I think Tom Hiddleston (War Horse, Thor, Avengers) would make an excellent Doctor. Mainly because he's a talented actor with a great sense of drama and humor along with deserving a heroic/iconic role like this. I'm sure he'll end up with many human companions in the film. I would hope that the feisty Ruth Wilson (The Lone Ranger) who has been stealing scenes in BBC's Luther could have a role as well.

Tom Hiddleston Could Star In Winter's Tale

HollywoodReporter says screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (The Client, A Time To Kill, A Beautiful Mind) is going to direct his first film based on the novel Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin. A slew of high-profiled actors are testing for the film which include Tom Hiddleston, (Thor, War Horse, Avengers) and Ben Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) for the male lead. Bella Heathcote (Cogan's Trade, Dark Shadows), Elizabeth Olsen, Gabriele Wilde and Sarah Gadon for the female lead. Russell Crowe is attached for the role of the villain.

Hemsworth, Hiddleston, Dallas & Branagh Comment On Patty Jenkins

Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Joshua Dallas (Fandral), even producer and former director Kenneth Branagh weigh in on new director Patty Jenkins.  It seems like an overwhelming wave of positivity coming from the cast and it sounds Marvel is excited by her take on the material. Thor 2 which is slated for a November 15th 2013 release.


Tom Hiddleston: "[She is] an absolutely amazing director" and that 'Monster' is "one of my favorite films. I'm so excited that Marvel has given the reigns to a director who has such of an incredible grasp of story, performance and complexity. I think her handling of the characters and the arc of the story in 'Monster' and what the story is about on the whole is really, really fascinating. I'm sure it's going to take us on another adventure somewhere that's entertaining and funny in some capacity, and the fact that Patty is at the helm is really, really exciting."

Chris Hemsworth:  “She has a great take on the story and a solid grasp on that kind of universe,” Hemsworth said in his meeting with Jenkins she seemed like a filmmaker worthy of picking up the franchise’s cinematic hammer “Branagh read every comic book he could get his hands on,” Hemsworth said. “She also looked like she had done her homework.”

 Kenneth Branagh: "Monster was, I think, an absolutely sensational film. I think that she’s a great talent. As a possibility in the mix, I think that’s a tremendous idea."

Joshua Dallas: "We are! We are planning a return to Asgard, next year. Thor 2 is happening. A great director called Patty Jenkins is directing the sequel. Ken [Branagh] is not directing, which is obviously a huge shame, because he came in and created that world and created the language and the look of the whole thing. But he's kind of set it all up for us and I think he's staying on as a producer. But yeah, there's going to be some more adventures in the Nine Realms."

"I haven't yet, no. But apparently Marvel are in love with her and I'm sure she is going to be a really exciting and interesting choice. She's done some great work before. Marvel always have a really good idea for those directors that are going to come in and they may seem out of left field, but they always have a plan and they're always really smart. And that's what's so great about working for Marvel, because not only are they movie producers and they make these great movies, but they're comic book guys and they love it and they love the characters and they love the stories."

Director Patty Jenkins Confirmed For Thor 2, Release Date Moved

Deadline has the official press release from Marvel Studios announcing that Monster director Patty Jenkins has been hired to make Thor 2. The sequel had just been pushed back to November 15th 2013 so Disney could fit The Lone Ranger into their summer lineup. Hopefully this could mean a bigger spectacle with an extra four months to complete post-production special effects. While Kenneth Branagh won't be directing he is still producing the film and likely contributing from the sidelines. Jenkins is the second female director to make a Marvel film and is an excellent choice in my opinion. It's expected that the original cast will return along with talk of expanding the cast of Asgardians.

I'd like to see Patty cast Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman (Snabba Cash 1-2, Dragon Tattoo, Safe House, Darkest Hour) in a role. She previously worked with Joel when Jenkins directed the pilot episode of The Killing which earned her an Emmey nomination. Joel was one of the finalists for the role of Thor that included Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. Hiddleston ended up landing the meatier role of Loki and is one of the best aspects of current run of Marvel films. It could be interesting to see Kinnaman in the role of Balder or one of the villains such as such as Malekith. Marvel might to move quickly before he gets cast in Steven Soderbergh's budding spy franchise The Man From UNCLE.


Another possibility is that Charlize Theron might re-team with Patty who helped earn her Best Actress Oscar for Monster. Theron is looking to make a powerful comeback after a batch sluggish films with roles in Jason Reitman's Young Adult, Ridley Scott's Prometheus and George Miller's Max Mad Fury Road. Not to mention starring alongside Thor himself Chris Hemsworth in Snow White And The Huntsman. I think she'd be great for Amora The Enchantress , Brunnhilde The Valkyrie or the villain Hela.

The only problem is that Fury Road is expected to start production in March and there are rumors of a sequel being at the same time.  That's of course if she can work it into her busy production for Mad Max. However, with the new release date and a spring production start Marvel would have plenty of time to accommodate Theron's other commitments.

Stunning Second Trailer For Spielberg's War Horse

FIRST LOOK: Loki & Nick Fury In Avengers From EW

CAST EM': Ridley Scott's Untitled Blade Runner Film

Now that Prometheus is wrapping up and starting post-production Ridley Scott's next film is gathering some steam. The yet Untitled Blade Runner Film is gearing up to be another exciting experiment of Ridley revisiting his past masterpieces. This time focusing on the world of replicants (cyborgs) and blade runners. We have no idea where the story will go or how it will be connected to the original film. My hope is that at the very least still it's as dark and violent as the first movie.

I have a few ideas of actors and actresses who should be considered for roles in the film. I'm using the fact that Prometheus' casting ended up with a majority of actors Ridley hasn't worked with before. The casting of Prometheus is being used to influence how I could see Ridley, Alcon and Warners Bros. could be placing actors in roles. Of course the film is from starting production any time soon with a writer only rumored to be in talks.

RYAN GOSLING: High in demand at the studio Ryan is quickly moving into the leading man role. He's gathered praise for films like Blue Valentine, Lars & The Real Girl and Half Nelson (Oscar Nominated). Along with a lot of buzz for his art house action thriller Drive that could see him earn some awards nominations this year. Gosling is currently shooting Gangster Squad, attached to Nicolas Winding Refn's Logan's Run remake and being considered for Steven Soderbergh's The Man From UNCLE.

TOM HARDY: Hardy is also quickly becoming important to Warner Bros. starring in two large Christopher Nolan films Inception and Dark Knight Rises. He's also seemingly getting his own WB franchise in the making replacing Mel Gibson in Max Mad Fury Road. Warrior could be the breakout film for Hardy as it's getting a lot of awards talk. He's also worked with Ridley previously on Black Hawk Down.

RICHARD ARMITMAGE: Richard (Captain America, Hobbit) is another actor about to explode in the next couple of years. He's mostly known for his work on British television on shows like Spooks, Robin Hood and Strike Back. However, this will all change when the two Hobbit films are released with Richard playing Thorin Oakenshield. Warner Bros. is financing the films and might look to the actor who is almost unrecognizable in his dwarf makeup for future big projects like Blade Runner. 

TOM HIDDLESTON: Tom is another rising star having a breakout commercial role in Marvel's Thor 1-2 and Avengers playing the villain Loki. He's also gathering some praise for upcoming films Deep Blue Sea and Steven Spielberg's War Horse. I'd like to think that he would fit nicely in this world either in the role of hero or villain. I could see Hiddleston becoming the next Michael Fassbender if given the right film projects.

JOEL KINNAMAN: The Swedish actor blew up when he headlined the thriller Snabba Cash. Landing roles in David Fincher's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and the acclaimed show The Killing. Joel re-teamed with director Daniel Espinosa for the Denzel Washington/Ryan Reynolds film Safe House. He's currently filming the Snabba Cash sequel and is wanted by Steven Soderbergh for a lead role in The Man From UNCLE. 

ROONEY MARA: David Fincher's muse is going be big after The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is released in December. From the trailers it looks like Rooney might be Oscar bound and could end up with a nomination. Ridley actively pursed Noomi Rapace for Prometheus who played Lisbeth in in the original Swedish film. She has similar qualities being able to give a strong psychical performance.

BELLA HEATHCOTE: Bella is already making a name for herself starring alongside Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt. The Australian actress is likely to explode after she is seen in Tim Burton's Dark Shadows (A Warner Bros. Production) and Andrew Dominik's gangster flick Cogan's Trade.

FELICITY JONES: Felicity (The Tempest) is a young actress who is giving interesting performances in smaller films like Cemetery Junction and Like Crazy. She had been in contention to play Snow White in the dark fantasy thriller Snow White & The Huntsman. Jones has a lot of potential and isn't over exposed like many other actresses her age.

GEMMA ARTERTON: Gemma had originally met with Ridley for a role in Prometheus but ultimately didn't get it. Catching his eye with her film The Disappearance of Alice Creed. Where she went from damsel to a lady who can kick some ass. While that didn't work out I think she might be a better fit for this with her sultry look. She's been mostly a background player in large films but is moving more into the spotlight with Alice Creed and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters alongside Jeremy Renner.

RUTH WILSON: I've been vocal on the site recently for Ruth to be put in more films. Ruth is the main reason the BBC series Luther is such a success. She's currently attached to Disney's Lone Ranger along with a role in Joe Wright's (Hanna, Atonement) Anna Karenina. 

Marvel Studios Considering Patty Jenkins To Direct Thor 2

Deadline reports that Marvel Studios is in full swing looking for a new director for Thor 2. It's been expected the sequel will start shooting this spring while Iron Man 3 will start in June. Considering the release date of July 2013 the studio is going to need to announce a director soon so that pre-production and casting can start. Patty Jenkins (Monster, The Killing) is a name in serious contention for the job. Patty's film Monster helped Charlize Theron earn her Oscar. Previously Brian Kirk who is known for directing episodes of Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones had been linked for the director's chair.

Tom Hiddleston & Jaimie Alexander Talk Thor 2

Jaimie Alexander, who plays Sif has been making the rounds during the promotion of Thor hitting DVD/Blu Ray. She talked to MovieWeb mentioning a few things she'd like to see in the sequel. Which includes a romance between Sif and Thor along with the addition of Beta Ray Bill.

 "Yes. I would love for that (romance) to happen. I don't know what the story is going to be just yet, and nothing has been made official, but the hope is that it will be made official, and I would love to explore more of that. And, in future endeavors, I would love to see Beta Ray Bill, or something like that. I think that would be really cool. Like you said, there are so many avenues to go down, so many endless possibilities."

Personally I'd love to see more Sif in the sequel as much as I enjoyed Jane Foster (Portman), I believe she could be sidelined for the sequel and it wouldn't hurt the film. Beta Ray Bill is a cool character but his design is terrible. He's a horse-faced Thor doppelganger so if they're able to redesign him for film I'd all for his inclusion.

Also, Tom Hiddleston talked to Collider about Thor 2 and he gives the impression Marvel could be expanding the cosmic world and exploring the other realms. I've been hoping the second film would be entirely set off-Earth and this seems like another possible step in that direction. Previously, Hiddleston teased that Loki could end up fighting alongside Thor in the sequel. That angle has been hinted at for Avengers as well. I think Loki is an excellent character but he needs a limited role in Thor 2 if only because he's been featured in two Marvel films within the year.

Hiddleston Confirms Loki Will Be In Thor 2, Shooting This Spring?

One of the greatest casting choices by Marvel Studios has been Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Tom was originally testing to play Thor but was better suited for the conflicted villain. It's pretty much paid off for the actor as he's been a major part of two Marvel films and now there is possibility he'll return for Thor 2. He gives some insight to MTV about the sequel and says that a director hasn't been chosen yet. Giving the impression that Brian Kirk (Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire) isn't a sure thing.

"I haven’t. I also don’t know that that’s actually confirmed. That’s not me being coy. I spoke to Kevin Feige last week on ["The Avengers"] set and he said, 'Oh no, we haven’t got anyone yet. We’re thinking about people. I think probably next spring is the idea because the release date is locked down," he said, adding that the storyline for the film will still likely pick-up from where "The Avengers" leaves off."

"In 'The Avengers' he’s really dark and kind of sociopathic, or maybe even psychopathic is the word, in a deluded way. Obviously I haven’t let go of the spiritual damage at the heart of him, it still comes from that lost place, but he’s just incredibly nasty. I think that probably in 'Thor 2' his previous actions will, he’ll have to take responsibility for what he’s done. The great thing about Loki is there is potential in him for greatness and awfulness, for great heroism and great villainy. There are still, even within 'The Avengers,' there are moments where you see within Loki a glimmer of hope and that possibility of redemption. It makes it fun to play and it makes it fun for the audience. Nobody is black and white, there are shades of grey in all of us. We all have potential for greatness and we all have flaws. I for one am championing the redemption," he added hopefully, along with a wish for a future Thor and Loki action scene: "This isn’t definitely going to happen, but I think there would be nothing more awesome than seeing Loki and Thor fight somebody side by side."

HBO's Brian Kirk In Talks To Direct Thor 2, Coming July 26th 2013

ShowBlitz reports that Marvel Studios is currently in talks with Game Of Thrones/Boardwalk Empire director Brian Kirk to take on Thor 2. The sequel is set to be released on July 26th 2013.

It's not surprising Kirk is getting film offers since both Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire have blown up thanks to his work directing several of the first season's episodes. While I believe Kenneth Branagh did an excellent job on the first film I didn't outright love it. New blood seems like a good move along with hiring Shane Black for Iron Man 3 coming out the same year. It's expected the second film will be entirely set in the cosmic world focusing on a larger cast of Asgardians and mystical creatures/foes. Which seems to sort of parallel Thrones slightly, so it could very well turn out for the better.

Marvel Confirms Cobie Smulders, Tom Hiddleston & Stellan Skarsgård For Avengers

In a press release attached to the first set photo for Avengers we also get a short synopsis and confirmation on a few actors. Previously Marvel hadn't officially announced Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill it was only confirmed by the trades. They also go on that Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and Stellan Skarsgård (Professor Erik Selvig) from Thor will also be in the film. The synopsis while interesting doesn't give us the big picture which will likely either leak out or be featured at Comic-Con in July.

Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers” is the super hero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster.  

Eddie Redmayne & Tom Hiddleston To Star In Spielberg's War Horse?

The Playlist (via Production Weekly) reports that Tom Hiddleston (Thor) could have a supporting role in Steven Spielberg's WWI film War Horse. They previously reported on Eddie Redmayne (Savage Grace) landing the lead role. The story follows a young man named Albert and his horse, Joey, and how their bond is broken when Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent to the trenches of World War I. Despite being too young to enlist, Albert heads to France to save his friend where he meets a French Lieutenant.