Discounting the recently released image of the character Tin-Man Destroyer, Kenneth Branagh’s “Thor” has somehow managed to avoid any substantial leaked media from it’s secretive production. Yahoo, though, has now anti-climatically unveiled the first look of Chris Hemsworth as the titular character in the upcoming Marvel adaptation.
Much of the film’s mystique has surrounded what aesthetic and feel Branagh would bring to the universe and, while we’re still pretty much none the wiser, Hemsworth’s suit here does look like it’ll translate reasonably well to the realistic Marvel world that we’ve seen on film so far in the two ‘Iron Man‘ films and “The Incredible Hulk.”
Hemsworth, himself, is also almost unrecognizable (he already is for most audiences but this writer grew up seeing him on Australian television) as the Nordic god, Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war in the story which will reportedly span the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard.
The story itself will center on the titular character as he is “cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. There, a beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.”
Also starring in the film will be up-and-coming Brit Tom Hiddleston as Thor’s brother and antagonist Loki as well as the eclectic cadre of actors that includes Jaimie Alexander, Colm Feore, Stellan Skarsgard, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Kat Dennings, Rene Russo and Adriana Barraza. How Branagh manages to be put this whole thing together is an intriguing prospect with the final product — as a bit of an outlier in the developing universe — possibly playing a huge part in how smoothly welded Joss Whedon’s “The Avengers” ultimately will be.
“Thor” will surely be one the major attractions at this year’s Comic-Con, where we’re guessing the first footage will be released building up to the film’s May 6th 2011 release next year.