Just for a Change… Let’s Speculate About Some a Marvel Movie

Variety says there are more Marvel movies in the pipeline, starting with Thor. Attached to direct is Matthew Vaughn, who most recently directed an adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess’ Stardust, which is being released today. He also directed the sublime Layer Cake. But perhaps most relevant is the fact that Vaughn was slated to replace Bryan Singer on X3: X-Men United, which lead to the appearance of Brett Ratner, the unclean one, the ruiner of worlds, the destroyer of that which is good.

Actually, perhaps Ratner will be the Asgardian style villain, and Thor will do his best to defend Midgard from the destruction of cinema.

This brings up all sorts of questions, and of course the most pressing is the most fun one:

Who in the world can play Thor?

Will he talk like Thor? Methinks they willst deny mine Asgardian speech, foul black hearted wretches!

Ultimate style Thor, or classic style Thor?

Comments

  1. Dolph Lundgren has the looks and the ancestry, but he’s kinda old, now. Sadly, I don’t think a Thor movie is even remotely a good idea.

    The only *really* good Thor is Ultimate Thor, but I don’t think any version of Thor can hold a movie together by himself. He’s just not…interesting.

  2. My only concern is if this is better than X3. I am going to be pissed…

  3. How could it be worse than X3? Sure, it could be as bad as…

  4. They’ll probably just need to pluck up a small time actor and get him in the role. Or knowing Marvel it’ll be Sam Jackson.

  5. What about Vorenus from Rome?

    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0571727/

    Pullo just got cast as the Punisher, so why not?

    Also, and I didn’t realize this until now, he played Tommy in Trainspotting. Fascinating!

  6. Am I suffering heat stroke already, or did someone say Samuel L. Jackson should play Thor?

    “We’ve gotta get that muthaf***in’ Loki off the muthaf***in’ Astral Plane…”

    Yeah, I can see that.

    As for the Thor movie in general, well… when even the comic store owner looks down at you for having the latest incarnation of Thor on your pull list, maybe making that character into a movie isn’t such a good idea.

    Yet, if it all leads up to an eventual “Avengers” movie, so be it.

  7. OK, last one: Karl Urban?

    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0881631/

    I’m not sure if he’s big enough, but that didn’t stop anyone in Lord of the Rings, did it?

  8. As for the Thor movie in general, well… when even the comic store owner looks down at you for having the latest incarnation of Thor on your pull list, maybe making that character into a movie isn’t such a good idea.

    It’s possible that your comic store guy is just an asshole.

    Seriously, Thor can be great. If for no other reason than Walt Simonson’s classic run on Thor (337-367), there’s something there. Starting in 1998, John Romita Jr. was on art in that book with writing mostly by Dan Jurgen. I don’t even know how good it was, but I loved it.

  9. I personally like Carl Urban for the role. We already now he can pull of the long blond hair and he just spent a movie running around with Vikings (Pathfinder). But with our the luck the studio will try to put Shia LaBoef in the role, which is just another step in Shia’s plan to take over the world.

  10. My choice would be Karl Urban, hes got the looks, and judging by LoTR, hes got the chops.

  11. Maybe the casting will be for Donald Blake, while Thor will be a totally CGI creation… never know nowadays.

  12. CGI isn’t really good enough to make a believable person yet.

  13. Man… gigantic beefy guy, godlike in stature, also a good actor… tall order. Who has the kind of gravitas to make you believe he’s more than a man these days? While looking ever-so-slightly like Fabio?

    How much grief do you think the director’s gonna get about that winged helmet at the studio?

  14. I’m going to make the call that there will be no winged helmet.

  15. Harry Knowles says this about the Thor script:

    This isn’t a Donald Blake, doctor on vacation story. Instead, this is a genuine TALES OF ASGARD story. In the first few pages the creation of everything takes place… the origin of the gods, their universe and how midgard (that’s are place in the universe) came to be.

    It has Thor and Loki as brothers – the best of friends… and it shows how that goes bad. The origin of the uru hammer, Thor being thrown from Asgard to being a mere mortal… it’s a HUGE story – easily the most awesome script that a MARVEL project has ever had.

    About 3 weeks ago, I heard they were talking to Matthew Vaughn… I’m a huge fan of Matthew’s STARDUST. However, I’m sure Matthew knows this… but the tone of STARDUST and this THOR script are very very different. There can be no tongue in cheek, no broad comedy… this is an intense story or deception, quests and battles amongst gods. Protosevich channeled all the best from Kirby’s universe and I hope to Odin that they take their visual cue from his work.

    This has the chance to literally kick everything we have coming up’s ass.

    http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33633

  16. They are doing a CGI Doc Manhattan, but then he’s a floating blue god.

    I don’t know if they could make a good Thor movie. At least not with an actor I’ve ever heard of. I love the comics and have for years, even though I’m mocked by every comic reading friend I have.

  17. I’m discovering today that I have a affection for Thor.

    And no, I’m not buying the current series.

  18. They should stop beating around the bush and just start production on the remake of “The Incredible Hulk Returns.”

    Seriously, I am all for putting Thor in a fantasy setting. My crazy demand for this movie is Thor-speak. Winged hat be damned.

  19. That thing about the script sounds great. I love Thor and Asgaurd, though. My fear has been that they’ll try to make it a standard super hero movie when I think what it should focus more on is the mythology and the other gods. I’d almost like to see a Thor movie where Thor doesn’t even come to Earth.

  20. How much of a fantasy setting can it have before it stops being Thor the Marvel character and is just Thor the Norse myth?

  21. That’s exactly what it says it’s going to be about. Five posts up.

  22. How much of a fantasy setting can it have before it stops being Thor the Marvel character and is just Thor the Norse myth?

    Even better…no royalties!

  23. I know, that’s what I said, that sounds great. Anyway, I really need to read Walt Simonson’s run. I loved at least the first half of Jurgan’s run and I’ve read and enjoyed most of the Lee/Kirby stuff in the Essential collections. The new book has been disappointing because it’s just too damn slow so far.

  24. Anyway, I really need to read Walt Simonson’s run.

    It’s a beautiful book in the traditions of the best comic books.

  25. Carl Urban all the way, I don’t really see anyone else playing Thor. I don’t like Thor that much but damm them if they take the Wings out.

  26. I really hope they do keep all of the setting of the movie in the Asgard realm. Because sometimes what makes a god from Norse myth seem kinda silly is when he is walking around in our world. It just looks really out of place. But to have him in the midst of an epic struggle and surrounded by other people and places like him…that could be visually stunning and have more of an epic feel.

  27. TOM GREEN AS THOR!!

  28. The Spartan that survives from 300 could play Thor.

  29. you know, even though it would be an incredibly fan-servicy moment, I will probably getup and cheer if there is a “I Say Thee Nay!”

  30. I personally love Thor, this has alot to do with Simonson’s run though, as I consider it one of, If not the best run in Marvel history (that I have read), and one of the greatest in comics. Even next to that, for a character that many have a hard time with, he’s had alot of good stories. The recent Blood Oath mini by Oeming was great, also most of his previous series as well as the amazing ‘Loki’.
    I’m only not reading the current series because of an incredibly stupid and fanboyish reason, they took away Thor-speak. But Im not that worried, they’ve tried it before, hell Warren Ellis tried it and it didn’t hold.
    I think Thor is an incredibly interesting character that’s one of the coolest things in comics

  31. I totally agree, CGI isn’t good enough to make a believable person. But that’s not say they won’t try to push that on us. Wouldn’t be the first time Hollywood has pushed a special effect that wasn’t up to snuff.

  32. How about Ron Howard?! No, No, Allen Alda or Woody Allen…

  33. A CGI Thor… No. That would not work.

    I may catch all kinds of grief for this, but, I think there should be two actors. One for Blake, one for Thor.

    Karl Urban as Thor would work, but if not, how about the pro wrestler Triple H? He played a vampire in “Blade III” and he’s got the Norse nose and the long hair, although it should be lightened. So long as he shaves off whatever goofy facial hair he is sporting this week.

    Just my opinion.

    Oh, and in the interest of full disclosure, I have subscribed to the new “Thor” series.

  34. My level of interest in a Thor movie is at about the same level as my interest in Lindsey Lohan’s day to day activities.That said, I have two suggestions for who could play him.

    If anyone saw the movie The Thirteenth Warrior there was a blond dude in that movie that was big and looked like he could whomp ass. If I recall, he’s the king/prince that gets poisoned at the end of it. Anyone know who I’m talking about?

    My second suggestions would be the dude from the new Beowulf movie. I don’t know if you’ve seen the previews, but put a hammer in his giant maw and winged helment on his head and you have a pretty good Asgardian.

    With the Thor movie in general, I think Marvel’s going to have a hard time getting much of the main stream interested in this character. For a guy who, at least I in my opinion, has sort of fallen in to the B realm of characters, I don’t think he’s going to get the budget and the care that he needs to make a solid flick. Sure, the script might be awesome, but would the movie makers put forth the big bucks for what will be an FX heavy movie? For things like Spider-Man and X-Men, it’s a no brainer. They have more of a mainstream market, but I just don’t know with Thor. Hey, who knows, I could be wrong. Most likely, I am.

  35. With the Thor movie in general, I think Marvel’s going to have a hard time getting much of the main stream interested in this character. For a guy who, at least I in my opinion, has sort of fallen in to the B realm of characters, I don’t think he’s going to get the budget and the care that he needs to make a solid flick. Sure, the script might be awesome, but would the movie makers put forth the big bucks for what will be an FX heavy movie? For things like Spider-Man and X-Men, it’s a no brainer. They have more of a mainstream market, but I just don’t know with Thor. Hey, who knows, I could be wrong. Most likely, I am.

    Thor is a hell of a lot more well known than Ghost Rider. Even if only as a character of Norse mythology.

  36. Remember that Cast The Avengers Movie thing we had here last year? You guys should do that again. Triple H was my Thor for that!!! But I like Carl Urban better now.

  37. It’d have to be Ultimate…

    And I say a grizzly Brad Pitt would be a fun Thor.

  38. I think Brad Pitt’s too skinny to be Thor…but how about him as Loki?

    Hmm??

  39. How should they make Thor look regardless of the actor playing him? The classic costume would translate well at all in a live action film. The Ultimate version looks better, but on the other hand a traditional Viking warrior would look cool too if they could make the armor unique enough to really identify with the character.

  40. and Thor is cast…
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0474520/

    you’re all welcome

  41. Cincinnatus, that’s totally the dude I was referring to from the 13th Warrior. Awesome!

  42. I called Carl Urban for Thor on the rev3 boards a month ago.

  43. This guy is a little old to play Thor!!!! How about Nic Cage for Loki instead of Pitt.

  44. Vincent D’Onofrio is the only Thor I know.

    http://www.stomptokyo.com/otf/Babysitting/DzlItem687.jpg

  45. What? No love for Eric Allan Kramer?

    http://www.devildead.com/hulk/incrediblehulkreturns03.jpg

  46. I might get a lot of flack for this but Brad Pitt.

    I’m thinking of the ultimate Thor, however. Mr. Pitt is a good actor, and he does kinda tweeky characters well, which Ultimate Thor is kinda of a weirdy.

    On top of that if he is Thor, they’ll be less likely to approach him for the Captain America role, which would end horribly. as good as it sounds, it will end horribly

  47. new idea, Dilios from 300

    http://imdb.com/name/nm0920992/

  48. Someone else said David Wenham earlier in the thread, and I just watched some of 300 today, and I’d have to say no. His nose is gigantic, and he just doesn’t look very godlike. Plus, I just don’t think he’s got the voice.

    Just my opinion though.

  49. I think if they made it at least 3 hrs they could do a good job. It would have to be like lord of the rings epic but as boring. Brad Pitt would work he was ripped in Troy. But I would just cast the whole 300 cast to play all the gods but Thor is really tricky. HHH I think is to dull when he speaks. Probably have to go with a new comer.