Marvel Confirms Captain America and Thor Will Go 3-D, Releases New Thor Still
Posted 07.14.10 by BrentJS
Whether you love it or hate it, 3-D is the new hot thing in Hollywood, thanks in large part to the phenomenal success of James Cameron's Avatar and to the higher ticket prices that can be charged for 3-D attractions. As such, it's no surprise that 3-D is being paired up with the hottest movie genre in Hollywood — superhero movies.
In an announcement released via the L.A. Times early this morning, Marvel Studios has confirmed that its next two comic book movies, Thor and The First Avenger: Captain America, will be released in 3-D.
Accompanying today's announcement were statements from both Thor director Kenneth Branagh and Captain America director Joe Johnston. Branagh said that he initially "had a healthy degree of skepticism" about 3-D, feeling that it was all "math and physics" and over his head. However, he said that he came to realize that 3-D could be used as another storytelling tool.
We came to feel that in our case 3-D could be the very good friend of story and character for a different kind of experience. ... A pretty careful conversation is what we've been having for quite some time about what we know has to be the most sensible decision: Is it led by story? Can this offer a different type of experience and exploit what we have in the story? It absolutely can ... we travel very long distances in the movie and the opportunity to export and exploit the journey of the hero is really offered up as a great potential enhancement here.
For his part, Johnston is more skeptical about 3-D. He said that his first test shoot with a 3-D camera rig was "a nightmare," but that he finds the process of 3-D conversion "exciting," calling it "a new challenge."
I think it tends to be overused and can be a little bit gimmicky. A lot of people are using 3-D now because they feel they have to ... that will come and go and the pictures that deserve to be in 3-D will continue to be. When it's done bad, it can make you carsick.
In conjunction with the 3-D announcement, Marvel released a new still image from Thor, which is only the second image released so far. It depicts Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth) casting a leery eye at his half-brother, the mischievous Loki (Tom Hiddleston), while their father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), the leader of the Asgardians "gods," appears to be reveling in his own greatness.
Thor is currently in post-production. It will be released May 6, 2011. The First Avenger: Captain America is currently in production in London. It is scheduled for release July 22, 2011.