Discuss: Will 'Thor's' Unknown Leads Help or Hurt The Giant Marvel Film?
Filed under: Action, Casting, Paramount, Fandom, Movie Marketing, Comic/Superhero/Geek, War
Casting comic book characters is a tricky business. The better known the character, the bigger the minefield. That's why I think casting the (basically) unknown Chris Hemsworth as Thor / Don Blake, which Erik Davis posted about on Saturday, is a good bet. And once you've cast one unknown in the lead, you might as well get another unknown for the second lead, which is exactly what Marvel has done. Tom Hiddleston will play the trickster Loki, Thor's adopted brother and principal foe since childhood, in the upcoming film version of Thor. Sorry, everybody who was pulling for Josh Hartnett.
The news was broken by Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily shortly before Marvel posted their press release. Hiddleston previously worked with director Kenneth Branagh on the London stage production of Chekhov's Ivanov, and acted with him in the BBC mini-series Wallander. Now we have an unknown Australian and an unknown Brit playing Norse gods! Thor is not due out until May 2011, though, so that should give the actors time to become better established. Hemsworth is currently filming The Cabin in the Woods, due for release next February, and also snared the lead in the Red Dawn remake, which should be out in September 2010. And it's likely that Hiddleston will show up in something else before Thor as well.
Casting unknowns / lesser knowns as comic book characters sometimes works (Christopher Reeve in Superman) and sometimes doesn't (Brandon Routh in Superman Returns). What do you think? Will Thor's unknown leads help or hurt the film?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-19-2009 @ 5:35PM
Jane Curtain said...
Can't you post up a better picture of Chris- that one is terrible. Google Images...
Reply
5-20-2009 @ 12:58PM
Tony GM said...
I'm pretty sure that is tom since he is next to a picture of Loki
5-19-2009 @ 5:43PM
scott said...
Did Routh really not work?
Jackman was pretty much an unknown before the first X-Men. Sounds good to me.
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5-19-2009 @ 11:51PM
carg0 said...
it wasn't Routh's fault he wasn't allowed to act. the script in general was nothing short of embarrassing.
if WB and Singer had focused on making "Returns" more their own instead of a masterbatory dedication to the original they'd already be working on the sequel.
as it stands, it seems like WB would love nothing more than to forget the movie even exists.
5-20-2009 @ 9:26AM
Kevin said...
What carg0 said.
5-19-2009 @ 6:30PM
Stunbunny said...
Not many people are invested in the Thor characters. I'm certainly not. Why not use some unknowns. Using the flavor of the day doesn't guarantee a good product. >koff!< Daredevil >koff!
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5-19-2009 @ 6:31PM
c said...
Hey if it means more money for the effects and a good screenplay I am all for it. The actors are very rarely the worst part in comic movies.
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5-19-2009 @ 10:10PM
Bubbameister33 said...
see: Plot.
5-19-2009 @ 10:08PM
n said...
who was tobey maguire before spiderman? cider house rules doesn't count.
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5-20-2009 @ 2:46PM
Matthew said...
Re: Tobey Macguire above...
Why wouldn't THE CIDER HOUSE RULES count?! It was a Best Picture nominee! And Tobey had starred in PLEASANTVILLE and WONDERBOYS and had already hosted SNL before Spidey, and that show doesn't exactly take non-household names. Not the same. I don't think Thor carries the same weight as other named superheroes and think this curious casting would have to hinder things somewhat. But what do I know...
5-20-2009 @ 4:10PM
n said...
I guess you are right, but I don't think he was a household name until Spiderman.
I think Thor will do fine, if the film is good. Now that Marvel is producing films on their own, they will take the time to do even more than what was done on Spiderman and X-men , story-wise as well as their relevancy to whole marvel universe.
5-19-2009 @ 10:36PM
carg0 said...
if the actors are good and they're supported by a good script, director and an executive producer who believe in the project... then yea, absolutely, it can succeed.
but it has to be a movie people *want* to see and, thanks to the technology, people want more superhero movies.
you look at movies like Ghost Rider, Daredevil, Fantastic Four and it's disastrous sequel. these were all movies people wanted to see, despite the so-so to downright horrid early reviews. thor will be no different
im actually impressed with the casting so far. im really looking forward to thor.
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5-20-2009 @ 12:44AM
DAVID F said...
the casting so far only helps the film.
While I trust Branagh, I think more concern should be placed on the transition of Thor going from the world of Asgard to today's modern world.
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5-20-2009 @ 9:27AM
arteq said...
branagh is a horrible choice as director for this project... get his ass out of here and bring on aronofsky... and no fucking beard on thor...
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5-20-2009 @ 11:27AM
Batzarro said...
I think in Thor's case the effects and thematic should drive the movie more than having household names attached. Either way, there's no source of comparison but the source materials.
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5-22-2009 @ 10:54PM
Hammer of the Gods said...
Unknowns is the right way to go on this. I have complete faith in KB as director. Plus, Chris looks great in the suit...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h235/Darkstormninja/CHAsThor.jpg
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