Tom Hiddleston is Loki

[Mister Sinister]

Nikki Finke reports.

 

[[A]]

MORE 'THOR': Marvel Studios Casts UK Actor Tom Hiddleston As Nemesis Loki

EXCLUSIVE MONDAY UPDATE: I've learned that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and Thor director Kenneth Branagh have cast their Loki, the nemesis to the lead in Thor set for release on May 20, 2011. He's Tom Hiddleston, unknown to American audiences but an award-winning British actor and Royal Academy Of Dramatic Arts (RADA) graduate who played Winston Churchill's son in HBO's The Gathering Storm. Marvel Studios won't confirm my news, but Hiddleston had been considered as a possible Thor. See my previous, Those Who Would Play Thor: Unknowns? There had been a big Internet push to cast Josh Hartnett in the Loki role but instead Marvel went with an unknown. This follows my news of the weekend casting of 25-year-old Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth as Thor since Branagh was in town to finalize the principal cast. See my previous, EXCLUSIVE: Chris Hemsworth Is 'Thor'.

I hear the Marvel Studios press release about both castings is being written and should be released soon. Chris Hemsworth also a virtual unknown to American audiences, yet he was approved to play the lead role in Thor by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and the film's director Kenneth Branagh. Hemsworth can currently be seen as "George Kirk" in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot and also just snagged the lead in Red Dawn for United Artists last Thursday. (He's currently filming Joss Whedon's horror flick Cabin In The Woods for UA, and I heard the studio was so hot on him that's why it cast Hemsworth in the action pic.) The 25-year-old hunk played "Kim Hyde" on 171 episodes of Home and Away, the successful Oz TV series where Heath Ledger started. The way Chris Hemsworth got the part of Thor is one of those great Hollywood stories that happens only once in a blue moon

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[bunk]

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

its a good week for thor news

 

[He-Man]

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Interesting, another unknown for a major character in this film. I wonder where the "big" names will come in to help sell this film.

 

[Canis Sapiens]

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm bookmarking Nikki Finke's page on my favorites.

 

[[A]]

I'm sure some big names will be cast for minor roles..

 

[C. Lee]

Interesting, another unknown for a major character in this film. I wonder where the "big" names will come in to help sell this film.

Someone like Anthony Hopkins for Odin will probably be announced.

 

[Mister Sinister]

Someone like Anthony Hopkins for Odin will probably be announced.

I'm still hoping for Branagh to play Odin.

 

[[A]]

Branagh will appear in Stan Lee's cameo

 

[Chewy]

Feige has said they're in the process of casting Odin, which wouldn't be necessary if Branagh was going to play him

 

[Wesley Dodds]

I'm sure Branagh'll enlist his big name, heavy hitter Shakespeare acting pals for the Gods... As for Hiddleston, yep! I like it... He has the right thing going for him.

Anybody else wondering were they've seen him before?

 

[Chewy]

I'm sure Branagh'll enlist his big name, heavy hitter Shakespeare acting pals for the Gods... As for Hiddleston, yep! I like it... He has the right thing going for him.

Anybody else wondering were they've seen him before?

He's in Wallander with Branagh. Haven't seen it personally, but that probably led to him getting this role

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm bookmarking Nikki Finke's page on my favorites.

qft

 

[Compi716]

This guy has the look, and if he acted alongside Branagh on stage, then there certainly must be something good about him!

 

[Kurosawa]

This guy has the look, and if he acted alongside Branagh on stage, then there certainly must be something good about him!

Agree 100%. He couldn't look more perfect. And I'm sure he's good.

 

[ultimatefan]

Definitely looks right for the part, and has a respectable resumee. My biggest fear is if they try to hard to "joker up" Loki, considering he´s also the trickster kinda vilain. But so far, so good.

 

[Watson]

Praise the maker, no Josh Hartnett!!!

 

[Saint]

Can't speak to his acting (by virtue of having no idea who he is and having seen nothing he's done), but he looks the way I would expect Loki to look. Thin, sharp features. Snake-like.

 

[Sawyer]

Praise the maker, no Josh Hartnett!!!

That was genuinely some of the worst fan casting I have ever heard. He's decent enough in certain roles, but I could never see him as Loki.

This guy though... I know nothing of his acting ability, but he's got a good look to him. Physically, he fits the role very well.

 

[Saint]

Praise the maker, no Josh Hartnett!!!

Agreed.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Wow, really good choice.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Meh... I am sorry but there are only so many unknowns you can have. I am all for Branagh getting his guys, and I wasn't even a big Hartnett guy... but I expected a name. And he doesn't resemble the character that closely IMO. I don't even like Portman for Sif but you wonder if they will try to look for a name there. They will need a huge supporting cast because as of now this won't get the GP excited one bit.

 

[[A]]

Praise the maker, no Josh Hartnett!!!

they might still cast Hartnett.. for a female role