THOR 2 Slated for Summer 2013 Without Kenneth Branagh

Deadline New York reports that Marvel Studios is locking down a date with Disney for a summer 2013 release for Thor 2. Given that Iron Man 3 is scheduled for May 3rd of that year, we can probably expect the Thor sequel to touch down around midsummer. 

Chris Hemsworth is set to return for the lead role, but helmer (heh) Kenneth Branagh is not attached to direct. He is parting ways with the franchise, though he's doing so without word of friction with the studio as was the case with Iron Man director Jon Favreau. In fact, the departure is said to be amicable. 

So, who would you like to see take the reins of Toothgrinder and Toothgnasher for this second outing? 

Comments

  1. boosebaster boosebaster says:

    I can’t imagine anyone other than Branagh, I loved it. 

    Having said that…Del Toro? 

  2. cahubble09 cahubble09 says:

    uh oh …

  3. boosebaster boosebaster says:

    Here’s one from left field, unproven on something this big but – Drew Goddard.

  4. Neb Neb says:

    That’s too bad that Branagh isn’t sticking around.  I thought he did a great job on the first one. 

  5. Jdudley says:

    He did a great job but I could see a new helmer being a good move for what will likely be a more action heavy sequel. Del Toro would obviously be insanely awesome but it’s also kind of exciting to think of all the other possibilities. I’m sure there are a number of acomplished directors that would love to explore more of the nine realms.

    (also, i think Jane should come to Asgard in the sequel and it should be set 90% in the nine realms this time) 

  6. finbarbat finbarbat says:

    Wolfgang Peterson.

  7. SpiderTitan SpiderTitan says:

    Man I am so bemed out that Brangh will not return. I don’t think Del Toro would have the time to do Thor 2, if I were to pick someone who could do prove to make a formidable replacement for Branagh, I would say David Yates. Now that the Harry Potter movies are done he does have a lot of free time on his hands after he completes his war film scheduled to be released next year, he could really pull off some great fight sequences, magic & if you see some of the performances of the villains particularly in the Harry Potter films he directed (Order of the Phoenix to Deathly Hallows Part 2) are quite striking & fantastic. Of course it is a bit disappointing that Branagh is not directing but like Bryan SInger for X-Men First Class he will stay on as a producer at least, so there will be, hopefully, hints of Branagh’s influence throughout the sequel. Here’s hoping for the Surtur as the next villain!

  8. I hope people know how instrumental Branagh was the success of “Thor.” There’s a good chance another director will not be as lucky with the material. In the case “Iron Man 3,” RDJR managed to get Shane Black, so clearly, he scored there.

  9. onetone onetone says:

    “This drink… I like it! More!”

    What about Zack Snyder?

  10. odino1 odino1 says:

    Woody Allen

  11. seNoj1 seNoj1 says:

    Brannagh prolly knew how hard it would be to make that release date.  He worked on the original for like over 3 years, and that was after the had been devloping it for Matthew Vaughn earlier.  Good luck to the director that has to make this one in 2.

  12. jmack jmack says:

    michael bay
     

  13. OttoBott OttoBott says:

    Most of directors listed are far, far too expensive for Marvel Studios. And when I say “expensive” I mean directors who’d like to be paid the normal going rate for a summer tentpole movie.

  14. BC1 BC1 says:

    Why not Matthew Vaughn?  X-Men First Class did great on the action scenes and was a well-crafted film.  Assuming he isn’t gearing up for another X-movie, of course.  Or, unless there is another Avenger’s film, why not Whedon?  He’ll have experience directing two main actors, and he can do action.  Snyder’s likely going to be DC’s director for a while with Superman, and del Toro has enough on his plate right now.   

  15. What’s the obsession with summer release dates? And locking in exact dates? Puts everyone under the wrong sort of pressure. Get the script right, then making the damn thing before worrying about release dates. Dinner rush the damn thing to release.

    Branagh will be a tough act to follow though. Maybe he’s doing another series of wallander.

  16. Tork Tork says:

    Nicolas Winding Refn but that would never happen…

  17. flakbait flakbait says:

    Alfonso Cuarón?

  18. icn1983 icn1983 says:

    Alex Proyas.

  19. mikeandzod21 mikeandzod21 says:

    Peter Jackson? Naw, he’s probably too expensive plus he’s making the Hobbit. You need a director who is good with that type of diologue, I think that was one of Brannagh’s strengths on Thor was his ability to make all of the over the top stuff mesh well with the down to earth stuff.

  20. Sly Stallone. He’s make a bad ass Thor. 

  21. Quinn Quinn says:

    Uwe Boll.

  22. PotatoPope PotatoPope says:

    Slashfilm (/film) mentioned that Branagh would be on the producing team.  A lot of directors do that, look at Nolan on Superman, just helping provide the ship and crew, but not steering it.

  23. OnASunday OnASunday says:

    The Cohens

  24. Baldrick says:

    Brett Ratner

  25. thepowerout thepowerout says:

    michael bay, and replace mjolnir with a shotgun.

  26. Joshua Joshua says:

    Luc Besson 

  27. tomdpimp tomdpimp says:

    David Yates would be a good choice, however Marvel likes to go outside of the box.

    Personally I would love if Brad Bird would do it.  The trailer for Mission Impossible:GP looks really good. 

    Bird clearly loves silver age Marvel.

  28. ccarney ccarney says:

    Im gonna throw my hat in the arena. Why not?

  29. cormano cormano says:

    @flakbait Alfonso Cuarón

    YES! 

  30. BetaRayRyan BetaRayRyan says:

    John Waters!

    …what?  I thought we were just naming random directors now.

  31. Tork Tork says:

    Zombie David Lean!

  32. Dumeer Dumeer says:

    Ridley Scott, with Russell Crowe as Hercules — kidding.

  33. OttoBott OttoBott says:

    “michael bay, and replace mjolnir with a shotgun.”

    already filmed as Hobo with a Shotgun.

    Brad Bird is an inspired choice. I’d love to see him in the director’s chair. 

  34. Nathan Filion

  35. origamikid origamikid says:

    @onetone  Is that a joke? Everything would be in a slow motion

  36. Just like Nolan on Batman, Brannagh’s gonna be a tough one to follow.

  37. @odino1  The last time Woody Allen made a movie with gods in it, it was Mighty Aphrodite, and that movie was great, so i would totally watch his Thor movie :)

  38. @inc1983 Alex Proyas is a great suggestion!

  39. s1lentslayer s1lentslayer says:

    George Lucas should direct so he can introduce midichlorians as the reason behind Thor’s powers.

  40. This is tough…..cause Branagh really did a great job with the film. I don’t know really any directors that could handle a shakespearian-norse story with sci-fi elements.

    Edward Zwick might be a good choice, because he’s good at historical/old school subjects. (The Last Samurai, Glory)

    Gore Verbinski would be good for just a pure action/adventure sequel. (All the Pirates films)

    My ‘Over the Top’ or ‘Never Happen’ choice is a shocker but Roman Polanski could do this too. He’s done some period peices before and he’s great at channeling Shakespear with his MacBeth…..Actually he wouldn’t be that far out of a choice to be honest. 

  41. I’d rather they put the whole franchise in the bin. I’m shocked people liked this terrible derivative muck.

  42. Meh.

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