As any Marvel movie fan is aware, Kenneth Branagh and his crew are hard at work on principal photography for Thor which began production a month ago today.
Things have been kept well under wraps by Marvel Studios and those involved as we haven’t even seen a single photo yet from the set, only tweets and reports from the likes of Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau and Marvel Comics head honcho Joe Quesada saying amazing things about the set designs.
While we still don’t have even a clue as to what Chris Hemsworth will look like in costume as the mighty god of thunder, we do have a few updates and pieces of information that have been scattered across the web. Join as as we look at the language spoken in the live-action incarnation of Asgard, Chris Hemsworth’s physicality in bringing Thor to life, a Thor open casting call that YOU can join in on and last but not least, a major scene that was just shot.
No Shakespeare in Thor
Despite Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespearean roots as a writer, director and actor of Shakespearean works, and adding to that the dialogue we are accustomed to from the Thor comics, cartoons, video games and other media, the characters of Asgard in the Thor movie may not speak like that at all. According to Anthony Hopkins in a brief interview with MTV, the characters speak normal modern English.
We’ve heard mentions here and there a few times that this may be the case but Anthony Hopkins re-affirms that Kenneth Branagh’s Thor won’t feature old English but modern speak. No “thees” or “thous” as MTV puts it.
This is the first disappointment for me from this movie as I was looking forward to Thor’s bad-ass dialect that would help differentiate him even more from the other Avengers and make the movie and world/realm of Asgard even more unique. That’s an important part of the Asgardians and while I understand the necessary changes needed to adjust Thor for the big screen, I do not understand why they would drop the language.
From Captain Kirk to God of Thunder
Chris Hemsworth made his mark with a brief but powerful scene as the star of the intro segment of J.J. Abrams Star Trek film of last summer. He played the father of the Captain Kirk we all know and love and that helped him solidify his chances at grabbing the title role in Thor.
Playing Thor is no easy task when it comes to the physical demands of the character on screen and from what it sounds like, Hemsworth is a “beast.” At least, that’s what his Red Dawn co-star Josh Hutcherson had to say about him.
“The entire time, he was constantly bulking up and just getting bigger and bigger throughout the entire thing… The dude’s a beast now. … I think he’s going to really tear it up.”
Source: MTV
Thor Open Casting Call
There’s an open casting call for Thor and you can be a part of the movie! The casting call for extras is being held on February 19-20 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
If you’re interested at a chance of being a part of the Thor movie, head on over to Before the Trailer for the details and application rules.
Major Scene Just Shot
Yesterday, On Locations Vacations put up a report of several television episodes and films being shot around the U.S. yesterday and one of the was of course for our Thor.
Thor: FYI: I got an interesting bit of information from an anonymous tipster last night. They said that Thor, which is currently filming at Raleigh Manhattan Beach Studios, Manhattan Beach, CA, is shooting a big scene today involving lots of extras who will be playing guards and cadets.
Guards and cadets? I wonder if this involves his arrival on Earth…
We know Agent Coulson (introduced in Iron Man) from S.H.I.E.L.D. will play a part in Thor, likely to recruit him into The Avengers. Could that be related to this scene?
What are you thoughts on these news items?
Stay tuned in to Screen Rant for your Marvel movie news!
Iron Man 2 opens May 7, 2010, Thor opens May 5, 2011, The First Avenger: Captain America hits July 22, 2011 and The Avengers is scheduled to debut May 4, 2012.
Follow me on Twitter @rob_keyes
Image edited from art by Olav
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Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Every time I hit on Thor's updates I wish for myself to see at least some set pics or something
Can't say how excited I am for this. Regarding the Shakespearean dialogue, I wasn't surprised by the decision, although I do agree it would have been awesome.
I can't whit till next summer …….THOR,……………CAP
nuff said…. i'm watching Thor: Hammer of the Gods on SyFI right now, OMG it's sooooo bad but i find myself oddly drawn to it ???? why?why?
anthony hopkins speaks Shakespearean briefly in wolfman, and he has the beard/hear for odin (not fully but you know what i mean)
i think it will be classic thor. but if it isnt i understand why, some teens haven't learnt shakespeare in school and would therefore 'not get' the dialogue.
i hope hemsworth become hugh jackman bulky or bigger not thin and toned.
I am also disappointed at the fact that they speak modern English in Asgard and not some created language like the language of the Navii's in Avatar, since Asgard is supposed to be a location that can be explained scientifically.
How are thy going to explain that to the audiences?
While I think this will be a good movie, I am still disappointed they are working this in to the Iron Man/Hulk/Captain America universe. I know they all exist together in the comics, but Gods from another plane of existence is hard to swallow in what has been a technology-driven super hero world.
Rob, I'm not sure how I feel about the dialect thing. I can see the logic in ditching the “thous” and “thees,” though. The question is just how far into “modern speak” they go. If they go the route of how the dialogue worked in the series, “Rome,” then I think it will be fine. I would like to believe this is their logic, but we'll see. Frankly, I don't care how good an actor Hemsworth might be, I just don't know that you can have Thor going, “I say thee nay!” and it not come off a little odd for the average movie goer. It would be fun if they sneak that line in somewhere, even funnier if they manage to stick it in the mouth of one of the mortals on Earth instead of one of the gods.
“… even funnier if they manage to stick it in the mouth of one of the mortals on Earth instead of one of the gods.”
I think that would be classic. Have someone he just meant start speaking like that as a way to make fun of him or ask why he doesn't speak that way … awesomeness would ensue.
They'll all be speaking with British accents for the most part, so it'll still have that period-piece feel I believe (until they get to midgard). I'm sure the language will work out just fine. Branagh is no dummy…
I am excited about Thor. I do have a bit of an issue with George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth) as Thor. I can't see it. But I guess if Jackman could fool me into believing he was Wolverine…….I thought it would have been Alexander Skarsgard of True Blood….But Branagh is a decent director so we will see…
While I think this will be a good movie, I am still disappointed they are working this in to the Iron Man/Hulk/Captain America universe. I know they all exist together in the comics, but Gods from another plane of existence is hard to swallow in what has been a technology-driven super hero world.
Rob, I'm not sure how I feel about the dialect thing. I can see the logic in ditching the “thous” and “thees,” though. The question is just how far into “modern speak” they go. If they go the route of how the dialogue worked in the series, “Rome,” then I think it will be fine. I would like to believe this is their logic, but we'll see. Frankly, I don't care how good an actor Hemsworth might be, I just don't know that you can have Thor going, “I say thee nay!” and it not come off a little odd for the average movie goer. It would be fun if they sneak that line in somewhere, even funnier if they manage to stick it in the mouth of one of the mortals on Earth instead of one of the gods.
“… even funnier if they manage to stick it in the mouth of one of the mortals on Earth instead of one of the gods.”
I think that would be classic. Have someone he just meant start speaking like that as a way to make fun of him or ask why he doesn't speak that way … awesomeness would ensue.
They'll all be speaking with British accents for the most part, so it'll still have that period-piece feel I believe (until they get to midgard). I'm sure the language will work out just fine. Branagh is no dummy…
I am excited about Thor. I do have a bit of an issue with George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth) as Thor. I can't see it. But I guess if Jackman could fool me into believing he was Wolverine…….I thought it would have been Alexander Skarsgard of True Blood….But Branagh is a decent director so we will see…