Thor to be directed by… Kenneth Branagh? (updated)
According to Variety, actor-director Kenneth Branagh is “in talks” to direct Marvel’s Thor, replacing Matthew Vaughn (Stardust, Layer Cake), who had been previously attached (until earlier this year). The Variety article seems to indicate that The Cell and I Am Legend screenwriter Mark Protosevitch’s widely praised script is being kept.
Definitely a surprise choice, but Branagh certainly has the experience with elevated dialogue, having directed a slew of Shakespeare adaptations. He most recently directed Sleuth, starring Michael Caine and Jude Law. Marvel Studios is aiming for a 2010 release for Thor.
UPDATE: Coming Soon has provided us with updated release dates for five upcoming Marvel Studios productions, which are now all on Paramount’s distribution schedule (tentatively, of course, since none of these are filming yet, and most of them don’t even have scripts).
The films included in the deal are Iron Man 2 (May 7, 2010), Thor (July 16, 2010), The First Avenger: Captain America (May 6, 2011), and The Avengers (July 15, 2011). The agreement also includes Iron Man 3, though no release date was included for that film.
Another long-gestating Marvel Studios production, Ant Man, doesn’t appear to be part of the deal, but it hasn’t been included with these titles in previous announcements, either. This doesn’t mean it’s definitely not happening before The Avengers comes out — only that it is, perhaps, at the mercy of other forces, such as Edgar Wright’s interest level. Spider-Man 4 & 5, and the various X-Men spin-off movies are, of course, all set up at other production companies (Sony and Twentieth Century Fox, respectively) and not affected by this deal, either.
Related Post: As if Iron Man wasn’t awesome enough (updated)
on 2008-09-29 at 02:18
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Might be interesting. I mean it matter how they want to take Thor. Branagh would do a great Shakespearean-like Thor. Which would be nice, as it might spark my interest. I never was a huge Thor fan from the start.
on 2008-09-29 at 08:07
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Whaat?
Well… he’s a good director. And I guess Shakesperean actors are used to pastiche what with all those “Romeo wearing a leather jacket” productions out there
on 2008-09-29 at 19:39
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This is the guy who did a full, complete 4 hour film version of Hamlet. I think he can handle Thor.
Great choice, way under-appreciated director.
on 2008-09-30 at 02:10
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I trust that Branagh would make a different type of superhero movie, which is what I think Thor would need. Could be cool.