Say what you will about “Thor” — and we definitely had a lot to say about the uneven movie — but audiences seemed to love it. In fact, it’s one of the only movies this summer season to come in first at the box office two weeks in a row, which in this age of big weekends followed by quick drop-offs, is quite a feat. Well, with the movie now tallying up over $430 million in ticket sales, a sequel is confirmed to be on the way.
Deadline reports that Marvel will drop “Thor 2” on July 26, 2013. Obviously, Chris Hemsworth will be back as is likely stipulated in his contract that was probably signed in blood and sealed in the fires of Asgard itself. But Kenneth Branagh will instead take a producer credit and sit the next one out (goodbye Dutch angles!).
With Hemsworth set to get massive exposure over the next couple years with “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “Red Dawn” and “Cabin In the Woods” all set to hit (and he just signed on for the black ops pic “Shadow Runner” yesterday), by the time he puts on the gear for the next go-round, he won’t just be a new face but an established star, which help push the film into bigger box office returns than its predecessor.
No word yet on the other cast members, but we’d imagine they’ll have some kind of option compelling them to return. Hemsworth will been seen with cape and hammer next year in “The Avengers.” Marvel is linking up a huge 2013 as they already have “Iron Man 3” set to open on May 3rd. Expect more news probably at D23, the Expo run by their new pals, Disney.