Comic fans, set phasers to “thunder.”
Dateline Hollywood Daily has reported that Chris Hemsworth, recently seen as Captain George Kirk in the J.J. Abrams Star Trek film, has been cast to play Thor, the God of Thunder, in the 2011 film by Marvel Studios and director Kenneth Branagh.
According to Nikki Finke:
Chris had read for the part of Thor but wasn’t given a test because a casting director had nixed him early on. I’m told Chris’ younger brother Liam (who’s also a ROAR client) then tested for the role of Thor, but Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige passed. Then, after a conversation with Ward (“You’ve got to reconsider Chris, he’s your guy”), Feige decided to let Chris read again. And once Marvel put him on tape, it was “Oh my god”. Branagh came to town last week and saw the Chris test and made the final casting decision today.
The 25-year-old Hemsworth has been a bit of an unknown in America, only coming to our attention with the Star Trek reboot, but he has performed in more than 170 episodes of the Australian soap opera Home and Away. He has also recently won the lead role in the upcoming remake of Red Dawn.
That said, Finke’s track record has not been spotless: she was the one who fanned the unsubstantiated rumors this past summer of Dan DiDio’s demise as head of DC Editorial, suggesting that Jonah Hex writer Joey Palmiotti or Flash: Rebirth editor Joey Cavalieri would assume the mantle. (Battle for the Cowl indeed!) But if Finke is correct on this rumor, what say you, Rama readers? Is Hemsworth worthy of Mjolnir’s might?
May 17th, 2009 at 6:40 am
He was pretty good in that brief bit I saw of him in Star Trek, had a good emotional range, so more power to Marvel for choosing a relative unknown if that is the case. It shows they’re becoming more confident in their own properties: Robert Downey and Ed Norton were sure-fire successes (don’t get me wrong, I thought Downey was born to play Tony Stark), but I think it will be nice to have a mixture in the eventual Avengers movie of different kinds of actors. And it will be a nice career leap for Hemsworth, to star alongside such big names!
May 17th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Loved him in Star Trek, and with Branagh at the helm of this film, it can more than likely do NO wrong. Looking forward to confirmation, if it’s true.
May 17th, 2009 at 7:14 am
I’d still prefer Charlie Hunnam, but he might work.
May 17th, 2009 at 7:50 am
I was rather taken with the idea of Charlie Hunnam playing the character. Could have been another Nolan/Bale kind of team…
May 17th, 2009 at 7:52 am
I dig it. I mean of course he’ll need some bulking up, but yeah, I think he can work.
May 17th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Don Blake, yes; Thor, no.
May 17th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Well, he sure looks the part (just may need to bulk up a bit) and I was very impressed with him in “Star Trek”.
May 17th, 2009 at 8:16 am
He was great in Star Trek but I wonder if he’s huge and godlike-enough. I almost pictured someone along the lines of Vin Diesel…
May 17th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I just don’t think he’s a great pick. He’s a fine actor, but I’m not sure he’s big enough, or that he’s got the time with Trek and Red Dawn.
May 17th, 2009 at 9:01 am
this is the wierdest thing. When I saw Trek As soon as I saw him onscreen I whispered to my friend that guy should be CAPTAIN AMERICA!
May 17th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Maybe for Donald Blake… Thor should be a big guy. I don’t want to see a Thor that looks smaller than Iron Man. That’d just be wrong.
May 17th, 2009 at 10:13 am
NO WAY! HULK HOGAN is going to play THOR, BROTHA!!!!
May 17th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Assuming he hits the gym, I got no problem with it.
May 17th, 2009 at 10:53 am
i can dig it!
May 17th, 2009 at 11:09 am
I think he looks the part… he’s got that oafish confidence
May 17th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
All I get fromthis whole story – There’s going to be a remake of RED DAWN?
May 17th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
He has the look, facial features are pretty close, make him grow out his hair and we just may have it.
May 17th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Ken, Chris Hemsworth is 6’3″. Downey is 5’8″. Even if they’re both wearing helmets and boots, there is no way this guy is going to be “smaller than Iron Man.”
May 17th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I agree with the above poster who says he’d make a good Captain America. I’d have preferred someone with a natural Scandinavian/European accent playing Thor.
But still, I’m not complaining. I thought he did a fine job in the otherwise mostly disappointing Trek film.
May 17th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
@russ
I thought the same thing!
May 17th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
I’m sorry but if this is true the Thor movie is going to bomb. That guy looks like a 17 year old kid not the God Of Thunder. He’s also a stick with a tiny face. I really hope this is a rumor cuz this would ruin the Thor movie for me.
May 17th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Alexander Skarsgard remains perfect for the part, and I will accept no other candidates.
May 17th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Haha! Score another one for Home and Away, for international stars.
Lets Tally this up against Neighbours.
Home and away
1.Heath Ledger
2.Naomi Watts
3.Julian Mcmahon
4.Isla Fisher
5.Simon Baker
6.Melissa George
7.Danni Minogue
8.Chris Hemsworth
9. Guy Pierce
Neighbours
1.Kylie Minogue
2.Holly Valance
3.Russel Crowe
4.Natalie Imbruglia
5.Rahda Mitchell
6.Leigh Whannel
7.Guy Pierce
Home and Away wins on quality and quantity it seems.
Guy Pierce loses for being on both!
May 17th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Oh wait Neighbours gets another one for Jesse Spencer who is on House now.
sssss close
May 17th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
“All I get fromthis whole story – There’s going to be a remake of RED DAWN?”
I’m with you on this one. Red Dawn!? Really!?
I really don’t care who plays Thor. I’m not sure its that demading of a role and I think most people could play it. With makeup, film tricks, weightlifting, and CGI anybody will be able to look the part. Who cares?
I’m also on board with the post that said this guy could be Captain America. I think Trek’s Chris Pine could also be a good choice. Way more interested in that debate than “who should play thor?” You could get the Beowulf CGI to play Thor and I’d probably be fine with it.
May 17th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Say we have a Avengers movie. Does this guy have the acting chops to stand toe-to-toe with Robert Downey Jr?
May 17th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Yeah, I’d have to say I’m one of the people who thought he’d make a good cap, though in either case he’d definitely have to bulk up. But hey, if Kenneth Branagh is willing to go with him, I trust the man’s judgment, even though I’ll withhold my own until the movie comes out.
May 17th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Good CAP. Capital “C.” Sorry.
May 17th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Yeah, when I saw Trek, I saw this guy as Cap America…but Thor…not so much.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Bulked up, with a mangy beard and long hair (ala Ultimate Thor), starring in a Lord of the Rings/Chronicles of Narnia style fantasty film with frost giants and trolls and Hella and Sif and Balder and Loki? Yeah, I’d watch that.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:39 am
Oh and please, stop this “Chris Pine as Capt America” talk right there. Steve Rogers is a man. A rough and rugged American boy next door. Chris Pine (no matter how much JJ Abrams tried to convince you) is not any of these things. I don’t want a pouting, lip-glossed, manicured Captain America hamming his way through a WWII scene, trying to act “butch”.
May 21st, 2009 at 3:52 pm
triple h is my first choice maybe randy orton bulk not acting skill
April 25th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
How about Nathan Jones. The dude is 6’11″ and built like a brick sh–house. with the long blond hair and the chance to play a good guy for a change and that guy would look believable as the god of thunder and the only one to be able to pick up his (hopefully) huge friggin’ war hammer!
May 13th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
OMG, I adore Kylie! She’s so charming
January 17th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
There’s obviously a great deal to understand about this. I think you made some good points in Attributes also.
June 6th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Merely thought I would comment and say nice theme, do you set it up for yourself? Actually looks great!
June 14th, 2011 at 1:57 am
Amazing! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a totally different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Wonderful choice of colors!
July 22nd, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Great News. Finally movie worth seeing this year
“Captain America: The First Avenger” save the superhero movie …