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Tuesday
10Mar2009

Has Kenneth Branagh Found His 'Thor'?

DateTuesday, March 10, 2009 at 4:19PM
Truthfully, the Marvel adaptation Thor has its work cut out for it. I just don't know that it works as a movie, what with the dual identities of the character, Asgard, and all the rest. And while I think Kenneth Branagh is a great director, I must confess the same thing about him that I did earlier today about Brett Ratner: He's got strengths and weaknesses as a filmmaker. And I think superhero movies might be one of those weaknesses.

The other issue is who to cast as Thor. None of the big movie stars are really good choices. You'd have to turn over a big part of the Avengers storyline to not only a comic book hero who isn't that familiar to mainstream audiences but to an actor they've probably never heard of, either, all directed by a dude who makes Shakespeare movies. That's a tough sell.

Latino Review got a tip saying Branagh dined yesterday at a restaurant in Los Angeles with Alexander Skarsgard, son of Stellan, and one of the cast members on True Blood. If you watch the show, he's, well...he's the guy who looks like Thor. Skarsgard is not just 6'4", but he's a big 6'4". If you need a comparison, Jimmy Stewart was 6'3", so it's not just being tall. I mean, if that's all it took, they would've signed Jeff Goldblum by now.

I'm not familiar enough with Skarsgard's work to say whether he could play Thor, but physically, at least, that mystery is solved. We don't know if Branagh and Skarsgard were meeting to discuss this role or not (they have the same representation), but it seems possible if not probable.

It's worth noting, I think, that a commenter suggested Skarsgard to us about a month ago, so he's been my pick ever since. I would think Marvel would prefer a bigger name, so we'll have to see how much talk Skarsgard generates. But I don't know where else they'd go at this point.

AuthorColin Boyd | | in , , , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | Comment6 Comments |

Reader Comments (6)

If Rosario Dawson can play Wonder Woman then why can't Dwayne Johnson play Thor?

Or is Ratner already smelling what The Rock is cooking?

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterWill

Hey Colin thanks for the mention. If you refer back to the previous article: http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2009/2/19/thor-still-looking-for-its-thor.html?lastPage=true#comment2993400

I'm just wondering if I was the first one to throw his name out there to the industry for the role of Thor. Maybe they read your article and my comment and all the comments on my comment and decided...hey "That Skarsgard guy may work for this role?"

Just saying is all, maybe I shouldn't give up the thought of becoming a talent agent just yet.

Mr. Skarsgard give me a call.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterEric

I couldn't say, but you were the first place I heard it, so maybe.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | Registered CommenterColin Boyd

If they don't use him, they could always put John Malkovich in a blonde wig!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJay

And who hasn't had that fantasy?

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 | Registered CommenterColin Boyd

I think that Alexander Skarsgard fits the bill for Thor and would be perfect in the role.
http://truebloodnet.com

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterTrue Blood

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