Filming has only just begun on Marvel superhero sequel “Thor: The Dark World”, and they’re wasting no time in jumping right into a big scale epic battle sequence. Today Chris Hemsworth was pictured donning Thor’s armor and red cape, wielding Mjolnir alongside Jamie Alexander as Asgardian friend and fellow warrior Sif in a fight against some nasty looking aliens, and Comic Book Movie has gathered up some nice shots of the action.

Alan Taylor takes over the directing duties from original helmer Kenneth Branagh, and “The Dark World” will take Thor beyond Asgard and Earth to the Nine Realms, where dark elves, led by Christopher Eccleston, have been heavily rumored to be the villainous armies he must defeat. Tom Hiddleston is set to return as Loki but will have a smaller villainous presence than in “Thor” and “The Avengers”, while Anthony Hopkins as Odin and Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard and Kat Dennings as Thor’s human allies will return as well.

“Thor: The Dark World” is set for a November 8, 2013 release, following “Iron Man 3″ and preceding “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” See the first set photos below, and head over to CBM for plenty more.