Thor 2

Thor 2: Chris Hemsworth Says Loki May Need to Apologize in Sequel

After causing trouble as the primary antagonist in both Thor and The Avengers, Marvel president Kevin Feige has said that Loki (Tom Hiddleston) won't be the primary villain in Thor 2. "You can’t do a Thor movie without Loki," he said last month. but Thor will be tackling "another big villain" in the sequel.

That doesn't mean that the brothers won't continue the contentious relationship from Thor, The Avengers, and decades of comic book history. Hiddleston said last month that he hoped Thor 2 would answer the questions of whether "Odin (Anthony Hopkins)and Thor [can] find forgiveness for Loki in their own hearts" and whether "Loki [can] accept that forgiveness." Apparently, Chris Hemsworth agrees.

Idris Elba Wants to Explore Heimdall's Background in Thor 2

For fans of The Wire, Idris Elba will always be known as the drug king Stringer Bell. But in the Marvel movie universe, the actor is recognized for his portrayal of Heimdall, the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge on Thor's Asgard.

Even though he was absent from The Avengers, Elba is returning to the role in Thor 2. In an interview this week with Collider, Elba said he hopes the sequel explores the character's background.

I'd just like to get to know him a bit more. Who is Heimdall? He guards the gate. Okay. Is there anything else? I don't know what is in the script because I haven't read it yet. But, the audience has responded to Asgard and wants to know more about who lives there and what it's about. I'm sure, if they do that, Heimdall will be featured more.

Marvel Could Be Planning Hulk Movie After All, Iron Man 3 the "Antidote" for The Avengers, and Tom Hiddleston Talks Thor 2

Audiences will soon see how writer-director Joss Whedon has done with the character of the Hulk in The Avengers this weekend, but early reviews have been very positive about Whedon's use of the "enormous green rage monster." Mark Ruffalo, the third actor to play the role of Dr. Bruce Banner and the first to play his alter ego in motion capture, recently admitted that he would "love" to make a solo Hulk movie, but Marvel President of Production Kevin Feige was more practical. "I love that people are saying that and are feeling that way about Hulk, but mission accomplished at this point," said Feige of a possible Hulk sequel.

Feige may be cautious about another outing, but another Marvel executive, Paul Gitter, isn't. The President of Consumer Products for North America told Forbes that the studio has been "pleasantly surprised by the phenomenal response" to the Hulk, and that Marvel plans to "spin him off to a stand-alone TV program next year," followed by a big-budget franchise movie in 2015. Guess when you have a movie that almost makes back your $220 million budget in just five days of release in only 70% of foreign markets, strategies have a tendency to change.

The Avengers Already a $178 Million Hit Overseas; Marvel's Kevin Feige on "Sequel-itis"

Looks like The Avengers 2 is quickly becoming a reality, even as Marvel's adaptation of The Avengers has yet to debut in America.

Early last week, box office records were shattered as The Avengers began to open overseas, and, after opening in 70% of foreign markets this past weekend, the movie has made back the better part of its $220 million budget. According to Deadline, Disney is reporting that The Avengers has already earned $178.4 million overseas in five days of release. Should The Avengers open in the U.S. as strongly as anticipated, a sequel is a foregone conclusion.

Combining the efforts of all of Marvel's previous efforts — 2008's Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk; 2010's Iron Man 2; and last year's Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger — The Avengers concludes what Marvel president of production Kevin Feige has called Marvel Cinematic Universe "phase one." Marvel is already planning more sequels for 2013, first with Iron Man 3 and followed by Thor 2, with Captain America 2 opening in 2014. The Avengers 2 should join that list soon enough, raising the question: how will Marvel handle a potential overload of comic book movie sequels? Luckily, Feige already answered how Marvel plans to "prevent sequel-itis" to io9 earlier this month.

Chris Hemsworth and Marvel's Kevin Feige Talk Thor 2

Marvel only has The Avengers scheduled for this year, but next year's Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 will see two of "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" continue their own solo adventures. Robert Downey Jr. recently spoke about how Iron Man 3 will focus on "the exploration" of Tony Stark and not his Avengers pals, and at the movie's premiere last week, Chris Hemsworth similarly told Zap 2It that Thor 2 will concentrate on the thunder god's life outside of The Avengers.

I haven't seen the script yet, but the big challenge was — we left Thor with that hope of Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) on Earth and Thor in another realm kind of somehow getting together. You know, I think the satisfying thing would be to see that happen. [Avengers writer-director] Joss [Whedon] did a great job of fostering that and putting her out of the picture for the moment. Also, whatever maturity Thor left in the first film, really being put to the test. I think he would like, now, to be put in the position to take over the throne and be worthy of that position. We'll see.

Iron Man 3 Could Start Production Early; Captain America 2 to Shoot This Year, Followed by S.H.I.E.L.D. or Dr. Strange?

Marvel Studios and parent company Disney have yet to release The Avengers, but they're already hard at work on "phase two" of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with Iron Man 3. That movie was set to start shooting at the end of May, after The Avengers had opened, but Comicbook.com reports the date's been moved up and filming could start as early as the end of April or the first week of May in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Marvel would not officially confirm the production change. It's likely that the studio will want Robert Downey Jr. to do press for The Avengers through April and, possibly, through The Avengers' opening date of May 4th. However, production could begin without Downey. "It is not April for sure," another Marvel source later told the site. Whether it shoots in early or late May, Iron Man 3 is set for a May 3, 2013 release date.

Idris Elba Confirms Himself for Thor 2; Talks Pacific Rim

Actress Jamie Alexander, who played the Asgardian warrior Sif in last summer's Thor, recently confirmed her return in the sequel, tentatively titled Thor 2. During a post-Golden Globes conversation with MTV, Idris Elba, who won a Best Actor Globe for his performance in the BBC's TV series Luther, revealed that he too will return as Heimdall in the sequel.

Thor 2 for sure. Avengers, we're not sure about, but Thor 2 we're going at it again.

Elba admitted that he had not yet met newly hired Thor 2 director Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones), as he has been busy shooting director Guillermo del Toro's upcoming movie Pacific Rim in Toronto.

I'm going back tomorrow morning. I've been there for five months. I love it. Guillermo's a genius, and the film we're making is a huge film, bad monster movie and robots and me.

Jaimie Alexander Confirms Herself for Thor 2, But is a "Maybe" For The Avengers

News about Marvel Studios' upcoming sequel Thor 2 seem to be everywhere these days. Actor Tom Hiddleston, who played the god of thunder's (Chris Hemsworth) treacherous brother Loki in Thor, recently revealed that Thor 2 was going to start shooting this summer in London, just as Marvel hired Saving Private Ryan screenwriter Robert Rodat to rewrite the script. Now Jamie Alexander, who played the Asgardian warrior Sif in Thor, has confirmed her return in the sequel.

"Yeah, I've had a few discussions about Thor 2," Alexander told MTV while doing press for new movie Loosies. "Definitely going to be a part of it, so that will be fun. And we just got Alan Taylor from Game of Thrones to direct, so I'm very excited. I'm excited to see what he brings. He's got a great history of directing comedic bits and then action bits and that's something our movie definitely has."

Saving Private Ryan Scribe Robert Rodat to Rewrite Thor Sequel

Despite the fact that many considered the Marvel Comics character Thor to be virtually impossible to sell to a mass audience — long-haired Norse god in pseudo-Superman costume defies his father and flirts with a mortal woman — the Kenneth Branagh-directed Thor movie adaptation was a huge hit for Marvel Studios, raking in $449 million worldwide to become the #8 movie of 2011, the #1 comic-based movie of 2011, and the second biggest superhero in Marvel's stable, beating up out both Captain America and the Hulk (which should tick off some comic book fans who feel the "Hulk is strongest one there is!").

With all of that success, you would think it would be pretty easy to head into production on the sequel, the tentatively titled Thor 2, but the project has hit one road block after another. First, Branagh decided not to return to helm the sequel. Then, Branagh's replacement, Patty Jenkins, (Monster) exited over "creative differences" shortly after taking the helm. On top of that, Thor 2 has been need of a writer to flesh out the rough draft of a script penned by Thor co-writer Don Payne.

Well, it looks like things are finally on track for Thor 2. Marvel recently found a creative director who is flexible (pliable?) enough to handle working under notoriously "involved" President of Production Kevin Feige in Alan Taylor (Palookaville) and now it appears that the studio has found its new screenwriter, as well. According to Collider, Marvel has hired Saving Private Ryan scribe Robert Rodat to rewrite Payne's script for Thor 2.

Tom Hiddleston Updates Thor 2; Shooting to Start This Summer

Marvel Studios hasn't had the easiest time retaining a director for its upcoming sequel Thor 2. First, Thor director Kenneth Branagh left the project in a "mutual and amicable" exit, and then Branagh's replacement, Patty Jenkins (Monster) exited the sequel over "creative differences" last month. Alan Taylor (Palookaville) was hired to direct just days after Jenkins' departure, and, it would seem, in time to salvage Thor 2's 2013 release date.

During a live webchat with Empire, Thor actor Tom Hiddleston gave a brief update on the sequel's production.