With the “Iron Man 3” campaign pretty much wrapped as the sequel opens this week internationally, Marvel is now putting their marketing efforts into “Thor: The Dark World,” which isn’t due in theaters for another seven months. But hey, there’s no time like the present.
Two new photos from the movie have dropped over at USA Today, and it seems everyone involved is trying to make this superhero space movie sound like a fantasy rom-com instead of a comic book film, with action, romance and love as part equal parts of the equation. “It’s superhero action, but it’s the familiar territory of a love triangle where the parents think your girlfriend is wrong for you,” Marvel honcho Kevin Feige said. “That’s how the best of these movies work.”
“Thor still has lot of explaining to do, and a lot of making up,” Chris Hemsworth adds about Thor’s relationship with Jane, played by Natalie Portman. “Even demigods end up in the doghouse, mate. So none of us is safe.”
But perhaps more intriguing than the boilerplate battle for Thor’s heart, is the development that he’ll have to ask Loki (Tom Hiddleston) for some assistance in defeating the Dark Elves, even though he’s in prison on Asgard. “Needing Loki’s help turns everything on its head,” Hemsworth explains. “And it allows us to explore the underlying complexities of their relationship. It really ends up being a kind of chess match.”
Geez, chess metaphors seem to be hot when it comes to describing tentpoles (“Star Trek Into Darkness” uses it as well in the official synopsis). Anyway, keep your eyes peeled for a teaser — “Thor: The Dark World” arrives on November 8th. Update: One new photo featuring Anthony Hopkins as Odin has also arrived.
