Chris Hemsworth celebrates the 10th anniversary of Thor by reminiscing about his and Tom Hiddleston's casting for the God of Thunder and his brother, Loki, respectively. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the fourth film from Marvel Studios opened up the cosmic side of the universe and introduced Asgard and the Asgardians. Starting off as essentially nobodies when they were hired for the roles, both actors have become household names in the years that they've consistently appeared in the MCU.

Admittedly, Marvel Studios struggled to find the right approach to the Thor series. But the character's origins story is arguably one of the most underrated entries in the franchise. Granted that it's not as well-received as Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok, Branagh was able to come up with a story that effectively had viewers invested in the characters to keep them coming back for more. There were divisive elements in the 2011 blockbuster, but Hemsworth and Hiddleston's portrayal as the contentious Asgardian princes was definitely the brightest spot for the movie.

Related: Loki Trailer Shows He's Finally Become The Real God Of Mischief

Considering how synonymous the actors have become to Thor and Loki, it's difficult to imagine a time when they weren't associated with the Marvel characters. Hemsworth opted to look back at the beginning of his MCU journey on the 10th anniversary of Thor by taking it to his official Instagram and posting a throwback image of him and Hiddleston. He also shared a news clipping from 2009 confirming that they had been cast in the comic book film. Check out the photos below:

Making Thor was a massive risk for Marvel Studios at that time. While casting Robert Downey Jr. ultimately paid off with Iron Man quickly becoming a critical darling and box office success, the franchise was in a precarious position just before Thor came out with both The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2 getting divisive reviews. So, banking on two relatively unknown actors seemed like a crazy decision; fortunately, things panned out well. The Thor sub-franchise did go through some rough patches, but Hemsworth and Hiddleston's chemistry as Thor and Loki was more than enough to keep the series going until it eventually found its footing in Ragnarok. In hindsight, rolling the dice with the aforementioned stars is a testament to Marvel Studios' knack for casting their characters — it is primarily still the case more than 10 years since the MCU kicked off.

Like their roles, Hemsworth and Hiddleston have gone through their Marvel journeys together for the most part. They've co-starred in all three Thor films, as well as three Avengers movies. But as the MCU moves forward in Phase 4, their paths are set to diverge. Hemsworth will reprise the role as the God of Thunder in Thor: Love and Thunder which is expected to be the first film in the sub-franchise without the titular hero's brother. Meanwhile, despite the God of Mischief dying in the sacred timeline, Hiddleston's stint as the trickster will continue through Loki on Disney+. This doesn't mean, however, that Thor and Loki will never be reunited again.

More: Every Way Thor 4 Is Undoing Ragnarok & Endgame

Source: Chris Hemsworth