The first look images revealed this week for “Thor: Ragnarok” confirmed that the hammer wielding hero was getting a makeover. Chris Hemsworth now sports short hair, and joining him this time around are some intriguing new characters played by Jeff Goldblum, Cate Blanchett and Tessa Thompson. And according to director Taika Waititi, it’s all part of giving the property a new flavor.
“A lot of what we’re doing with the film is, in a way, kind of dismantling and destroying the old idea and rebuilding it in a new way that’s fresh,” he told EW. “Everyone’s got a slightly new take on their characters, so in that way, it feels like [this is] the first ‘Thor.’ ”
We’re still a long way off from seeing the movie, but for a while it’s been pitched as a buddy movie, and the director points to “48 HRS.,” “Withnail and I,” and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” as inspirations. As for the plot, it’s going see most of Thor’s adventures take place in outer space. Here’s the breakdown from Entertainment Weekly:
When we last saw Thor, he was flying off to figure out who was manipulating the Avengers at the end of ‘Age of Ultron’. Eventually, he hears rumblings of trouble in Asgard: His evil brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), has been impersonating their missing father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Loki’s rather lax governing leads to the reemergence of an imprisoned Hela (Cate Blanchett). Thor’s initial encounter with Hela gets him blasted to Sakaar, a barbaric planet ruled by the charming but nefarious Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), a tough, hard-drinking warrior hiding out on Sakaar brings the god to the Grandmaster. Thor is then forced into becoming a gladiator, which leads to his haircut and the loss of his trusty hammer.
Don’t forget that Mark Ruffalo‘s Bruce Banner also factors into the story, with Benedict Cumberbatch‘s Doctor Strange stopping by as well.
Sounds like it’s going to be tons of fun for fans. “Thor: Ragnarok” opens on November 3rd.
