Kenneth Branagh to direct Thor

[Ronny Shade]

good thing we're all theater connoisseurs and we have hundreds of promising stage actors that we can suggest and discuss online.

 

[Chewy]

Branagh's going to be on Leno Wednesday.

Even if he doesn't say anything Thor-related there, that's a pretty good indication that we should be getting a fair few interviews with him soon, and he's bound to be asked some Thor questions in some of them.

 

[Scarlet Spider]

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/12/13/exclusive-kenneth-branagh-breaks-silence-on-thor-says-casting-talk-is-premature/

EXCLUSIVE: Kenneth Branagh Breaks Silence On ‘Thor,’ Says Casting Talk Is Premature

Published by Josh Horowitz on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 5:16 pm.

It’s been over two months since word broke that Marvel was courting Kenneth Branagh to direct their next big-screen re-launch of one of their cherished heroes, Thor. And since then we’ve heard nary a peep from Branagh himself. At today’s junket for “Valkyrie,” MTV News caught up with the actor/filmmaker and of course brought up the project.

“I am directing “Thor” or “The Mighty Thor’ as you might like to call it,” he said with a smile before clarifying what the title of the film will be. “I think it will be ‘Thor’.”

MTV has spoken to other writers about why Branagh would be such a good fit for the hero. But here was finally an opportunity to hear from Branagh about what appealed to him about the project. So what’s the appeal of “Thor,” Kenneth? “To work on a story about one of the immortals, Gods, extraordinary beings, inter-dimensional creatures,” he enthused.

He continued excitedly, “There’s science fiction and science fact and fantasy all woven into one. It’s based on Norse legends which Marvel sort of raided in a brilliant way.

So who will play Branagh’s hero? Asked about the rumors of Kevin McKidd being up for the role, the director waved it off as premature speculation.

“There’s been lots of talk [about casting] — I sound like a politician — but we are too early at this stage. We’re getting the story and the visual effects together and all of that is very exciting. Someone sensational is going to play the part but it is early days.”

Just because Branagh hasn’t worked on a project of this scale since “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” fear not. This “Thor” promises to be as large as the character would seem to call out for. “It’s a chance to tell a big story on a big scale,” said Branagh. “It’s a human story right in the center of a big epic scenario.”

Branagh’s keeping mum for the most part but are you liking what he has to say so far? Is he the best director for “Thor”?

 

[Chewy]

He sounds pumped, which is awesome.

It also sounds to me like Blake still isn't in it, with the wording of it being "based on Norse Legends", but maybe that's just me reading too much into it.

 

[Ronny Shade]

sounds like we're gonna get epic

 

[Doctor Jones]

Isn't Branagh the dude who played Lockheart in HP?

 

[Chewy]

Yes.

 

[Mister Sinister]

“It’s a human story right in the center of a big epic scenario.”

That's good for any Avengers crossovers.

 

[Spade]

That's good for this movie, which is more important. The best director for an epic is one that understands that you need to balance spectacle with subjects we can care about. Branagh continues to sound like the right choice for a Thor film.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Yes.

Hmm. Interesting. Now when I think of Branagh on the set filming, I'll always think of the smiling Lockheart in his robes.

 

[Weadazoid]

he is cool

 

[Marz69]

He sounds like the right man for the job. It seems important to him. But I am worried about the casting of Thor. I'm sure Kenneth has a vision and will work hard with the actor, BUT my concern is about when they plan to start filming & what shape the actor will be in. "Early stages" is fine for set design etc, but the actor needs time to get huge. I hope the actor is chosen and Kenneth is just dodging the question because it is not too early to have an actor signed up when he needs a 4 month min to get in shape. Seriously, how many actors are already in shape to pay Thor right now?

 

[broblacksteel]

Ronny PLEASE dont open up another can of worms with names of every theater actor who is 6'0 tall and above, we get enough suggestions on here by NON theater trained actors who are said to be "perfect" for thor....

 

[Spade]

We want good actors for the role, yes? Does it matter whether they have stage experience or not? The bad ones will be recognized and derided, no matter where the suggestion is coming from. No one in their right mind thinks Branagh's Thor should be Brock Lesner, for example.

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/12/1...lence-on-thor-says-casting-talk-is-premature/

sounds good. can´t wait for that movie.

 

[[A]]

So it's a lock. Glad to hear it

 

[Brian Braddock]

“It’s a human story right in the center of a big epic scenario.”

-Nice.

 

[[A]]

How long before a Thor purist start bashing that line..?

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

That's good for this movie, which is more important. The best director for an epic is one that understands that you need to balance spectacle with subjects we can care about. Branagh continues to sound like the right choice for a Thor film.

Agreed!

 

[cerealkiller182]

Im just glad to finally hear from Branagh. All I really needed to hear was "Yeah, Im doing Thor."

 

[Brian Braddock]

Me too;

Would I be right in thinking that MARVEL still havent 'officially' announced him as director yet?

 

[Chewy]

Branagh isn't the media-****e type.

I expect to hear a little bit more from him in the coming days as he does the rounds for Valkyrie, and then not very much until Comic-Con. Not saying we won't hear Thor stuff, we obviously will, just not much from Branagh himself.

 

[Spider-Vader]

He sounds pumped, which is awesome.

It also sounds to me like Blake still isn't in it, with the wording of it being "based on Norse Legends", but maybe that's just me reading too much into it.

To tell you the truth, I'd prefer if Blake isn't in the movie until the end.

Loki tricks Odin into banishing Thor to Earth.

 

[Lobo]

I can't wait for this film

 

[Chewy]

To tell you the truth, I'd prefer if Blake isn't in the movie until the end.

Loki tricks Odin into banishing Thor to Earth.

Thor's banishment will be the focal point of this movie. That is Thor's origin story, it's the arc that defines the character he becomes.