As previously reported, screen star and Drama Desk-winning actor Anthony Hopkins will star in Thor, the Kenneth Branagh helmed film for Marvel Studios. Production begins in January and Paramount Pictures will distribute the film on May 20, 2011.
Based on the Marvel Comics series, Thor is a big budget adventure that explores the mystical roots of the Asgardian god. In Thor, mighty warrior Thor of Asgard is powerful but arrogant. His irresponsible actions reignite an ancient war and he is banished to Earth by his father. He comes into his own heroism when he fights his Asgard arch enemy, Loki, and protects Earth. The film was written by Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend), with Zack Stentz & Ashley Miller.
Hopkins will play Odin, the king of Asgard and the father of Thor (Star Treks Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddelston). Natalie Portman has been cast as Thor's love interest, Jane Foster. they are joined by Jaimie Alexander and Colm Feore.
Additional casting has been revealed, according to Variety, and includes the talents of Stuart Townsend, Ray Stevenson, and Tadanobu Asano to play Warrior's Three, a trio of Asgardian adventurers who fight alongside the Norse god in the Marvel Entertainment drama.
Townsend, who last wrote and directed "Battle in Seattle," will play Fandral, a character from the comic book series inspired by Errol Flynn. Stevenson, the star of the small screen's "Rome," plays Volstagg the Valiant, a hard-living brawler, inspired by Shakespeare's Falstaff. Asano, best known for starring in "Mongol," plays Hogun the Grim, the third warrior and traveling buddy of Thor (Hemsworth).
Kevin Feige is producing, with Stentz & Miller attached as "Fringe" writer/producers.
Hopkins was seen on Broadway in the original production of Equus, for which he won a Drama Desk Award. A protege of Sir Laurence Olivier in the 1960s, he the Royal National Theatre and became Olivier's understudy, filling in when Olivier was struck with appendicitis during a production of August Strindberg's The Dance of Death. He additionally worked at the National Theatre, most notably as Lambert Le Roux in Pravda by David Hare and Howard Brenton and as Antony in Antony and Cleopatra opposite Judi Dench. Considered to be one of film's greatest living actors, he is known for his portrayal of cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the 1991's The Silence of the Lambs, its sequel, Hannibal, and its prequel, Red Dragon. His other notable film credits include Magic, The Elephant Man, 84 Charing Cross Road, Dracula, Legends of the Fall, The Remains of the Day, Amistad, Meet Joe Black, The Mask of Zorro, The World's Fastest Indian, Hearts in Atlantis, Nixon and Fracture. He will next be seen starring with Benicio Del Toro in the Joe Johnston-directed "The Wolfman," released by Universal next February, and Woody Allen's "You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger."
