Watch: Chris Hemsworth Returns in First Trailer for “Thor: The Dark World”

April 23, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos Leave a comment

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Sequels have to be bigger and badder than the original, as a rule, and Marvel has clearly been strictly enforcing it thus far for their Phase 2 films. The first trailer for “Thor: The Dark World” has arrived and indeed, it already feels grander, more epic and more dangerous than 2011′s “Thor.” Chris Hemsworth returns as the God of Thunder to battle the Dark Elves, whose Earth-destroying capabilities far surpasses that of the lone giant robot The Destroyer that Thor fought in the first film. More of the action will also take place off Earth this time around, with even Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster transported to Asgard and beyond with her intergalactic superhero boyfriend.

Tom Hiddleston as Loki is back for the third time but I for one am hoping he’ll have a limited role this time around. There are other villains in the Marvel universe, after all. “Thor: The Dark World”, directed by Alan Taylor, will be released on November 8th, following next month’s “Iron Man 3.” Marvel Phase 2 is well underway and we could not be more psyched. Watch the trailer below.

Lightning Strikes for Chris Hemsworth on First Poster for “Thor: The Dark World”

April 19, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images Leave a comment

thor2sm It’s officially Marvel season! “Iron Man 3″ has been kicking off its worldwide promo tour – with screenings in London returning ecstatic results – and now “Thor: The Dark World” is prepping to begin its marketing push. Today USA Today has unveiled the first poster from the November release, featuring star Chris Hemsworth in some inclement weather.

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, make up 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.

Marvel bigwig Kevin Feige also describes the unusual source for the original image on the poster. It didn’t come from a photoshoot, but from just another day on the set. “It’s rare that you have a poster that is just Chris Hemsworth shooting on the set,” says Feige. “But he just looks like Thor. We just put in some lightning, and he’s got his hammer and you’re there. It’s just an incredibly striking image.”

See the full poster below and prepare for “Thor: The Dark World” when it’s released on November 8th. The first trailer will be released next week.

First look at Chris Hemsworth and Jamie Alexander back in action on the set of “Thor: The Dark World”

September 11, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images Leave a comment

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.

Kat Dennings confirmed to return for “Thor: The Dark World”

August 21, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Indie darling turned bona fide TV star Kat Dennings has been confirmed to be reprising her role in sequel “Thor: The Dark World”, according to Deadline. This completes the gang of returning Marvel characters, led by Chris Hemsworth as the titular Norse God/Avenger, along with Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Idris Elba as Heimdall and Jamie Alexander as Sif on the alien side, and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Stellan Skarsgard as Erik Selvig on Earth. In addition, newbies include Zachary Levi, who takes over the role of Fandral vacated by David Dallas, and Christopher Eccleston as big baddie Malekith.

Alan Taylor takes over directing duties from Kenneth Branagh, and the plot, while under wraps, is expected to center around classic Marvel villains the Dark Elves, who are pulled from Norse mythology and ruled over by Eccleston’s Malekith. Filming is set to begin imminently on location in England and Iceland. Dennings’ role as snarky sidekick Darcy Lewis has reportedly been expanded for the sequel. “Thor: The Dark World” is scheduled for a November 8, 2013 release.

There had been question of Dennings’ return since – like Dallas and ABC series “Once Upon a Time” – she is now the star of a hit TV series that demands the majority of her time. But it appears CBS and “2 Broke Girls” have hammered out a schedule with Marvel Studios that will allow her to do both. The original “Thor” was the last time Dennings appeared on the big screen. “2 Broke Girls” heads into its second season next month.

Chris Hemsworth attached to 19th century maritime actioner “In the Heart of the Sea”

June 11, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Chris Hemsworth seems to have found a nice niche in being an action star with humanity and depth, and looks to be continuing his streak by attaching himself to star in “In the Heart of the Sea”, based on true events that inspired Melville’s “Moby Dick.” Deadline reported the news earlier today, and the project is now out to studios from Hemsworth’s “Snow White and the Huntsman” producers.

Based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s factual retelling “In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex”, Hemsworth will play a first mate aboard whaling ship the Essex, which began a journey from Nantucket bound for the South Pacific in 1819 and was rammed and sunk by a giant sperm whale. The initial crew of 20, to be led by Hemsworth’s character, dwindled as they struggled to survive aboard three lifeboats, facing hunger, disease and inclement weather. Charles Leavitt adapted the book, and the film has been in development in some form or another since 2000, with Ed Zwick attached to direct at one point, though that is no longer the case. With Hemsworth’s skyrocketing star power now part of the package, it seems the film may finally make its way into production.

Hemsworth has had a pretty good start to 2012, appearing in “Cabin in the Woods”, “The Avengers” and “Snow White and the Huntsman”, and he also recently wrapped up playing Formula One racer James Hunt for Ron Howard’s “Rush.” He’s getting ready to head back to Asgard to reprise his titular role in “Thor 2″, and is also attached to Navy SEALs pic “Shadow Runners.”

Chris Hemsworth gets behind the wheel as Formula One driver James Hunt in biopic “Rush”

July 11, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Chris Hemsworth’s foreseeable future is booking up fast. The breakout star of “Thor” has lined up another high profile role, according to Deadline. The Aussie actor is in talks to rev up to play legendary British Formula One race car driver James Hunt in “Rush”, the next directorial vehicle of Ron Howard.

The film, scripted by Peter Morgan, chronicles Hunt’s rivalry with fellow racer Niki Lauda for dominance in the 1970′s. Hunt’s charismatic personality turned a nation on to the sport. There’s no telling yet how this might affect the James Hunt project Dreamworks Studios had reportedly been planning as a starring vehicle for Alex Pettyfer, though perhaps like in racing, getting there first is all that matters. There’s been no movement on the Dreamworks picture since the first initial report and Pettyfer’s star has fallen a bit since the disappointment of “I Am Number Four”, while the opposite is true for Hemsworth’s career trajectory.

“Rush” is expected to film in early 2012, which gives Hemsworth plenty of time to complete his other commitments, currently wrapping up “The Avengers”, “Snow White and the Huntsman” this August and black ops thriller “Shadow Runner” in late 2011. Presumably, he will then do “Rush” and immediately segue back into “Thor” mode for the sequel that already has a July 26, 2012 release date.

Chris Hemsworth to return as “Thor” in July 2013 without director Kenneth Branagh

June 30, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting, General News Leave a comment

In a bit of expected news, Marvel has officially greenlit a sequel to “Thor”, the May superhero release that garnered over $400 million for Disney/Marvel worldwide. Deadline reports Chris Hemsworth will return to wield the hammer in the titular role of the Norse God turned Avenger, but director Kenneth Branagh is out. Branagh will most likely stay on in a producing capacity but the job of director is now available and sure to be hotly contested.

An official release date has already been set for July 26, 2013, opening three months after the May 6, 2013 release of “Iron Man 3″, which will see Robert Downey Jr return as Thor’s cocky, snarky teammate. Downey and Hemsworth are currently in New Mexico filming Joss Whedon’s all-star team up “The Avengers”, which is set for a May 12, 2012 release. Further setting up for that highly anticipated event is Chris Evans headlining “Captain America: The First Avenger”, releasing on July 22th. Presumably, if his solo film does well, he will get his own sequel too, and Marvel has not ruled out spinning off solo movies for Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk (though the tepid reception of the previous two attempts to bring The Hulk to the big screen should give them pause) and Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, who first made a cameo in “Thor”.

In any case, Hemsworth appears to be well tied up for the foreseeable future, committed to filming the titular role in “Snow White and the Huntsman” for Universal after “The Avengers” and recently signing on for black ops thriller “Shadow Runner” for Sony Pictures.

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