A couple of tidbits of casting news concerning Thor 2 for you today, with Idris Elba confirming that he will reprise his role as Heimdall, the towering guardian of Asgard's rainbow bridge Bifrost.

When asked about his involvement in any future Marvel projects, Elba responded "Thor 2, for sure," before going on to elaborate, "We're going at it again."

Elba went on to admit that he had yet to meet with new director Alan Taylor, and also confirmed that he hadn't been at all involved with The Avengers, scotching rumours of a potential cameo appearance in that film.

Elba's news comes hot on the heels of Jaimie Alexander confirming that she will also rejoin her Thor buddies to reprise the role of Sif, Thor's childhood sweetheart.

And according to Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige, we can expect the sequel to deliver a deeper look into the mythology of Thor's universe.

"We're going to take Thor literally to other worlds," he said. "It will primarily be the journey of that character, of he and Jane Foster and how the new dynamic with his father is working out, as well as what are the broader stakes for The Nine Worlds."

Thor 2 is expected to arrive at some point in 2013. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Natalie Portman angry over Patty Jenkins leaving Thor 2 [15th December 2011 00:00:00]

Natalie Portman is reportedly most displeased at the exit of Patty Jenkins from superhero sequel Thor 2 earlier this month.

Monster director Jenkins had been announced as the replacement for Kenneth Branagh, after Branagh had turned down the opportunity to return. It was an appointment that would have made Jenkins the first female director to head up a major superhero movie, only for her to leave the project abruptly at the beginning of the month.

Whilst "creative differences" were mooted, The Hollywood Reporter suggests that Jenkins was fired without warning, a course of events that has riled Portman.

It is thought that the star had already been considering her position in the sequel over concerns that it would keep her from spending time with her new baby. However, those issues were apparently resolved, with Jenkins presence a key factor in Portman's decision.

Portman is now contractually obliged to appear in the film, although Marvel hope to appease her somewhat by involving her in the search for Jenkins' replacement. Word on who that might be, as we get it. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Patty Jenkins to direct Thor 2? [22nd September 2011 20:25:09]

Having had Kenneth Branagh hold the reigns for Thor, is Marvel making it a trend to have weighty directors handle movies in its comic-book franchise?

It seems so, given that Patty Jenkins - best known as the director of the 2003 film Monster ? is apparently in talks to helm Thor 2.

While there has been no official confirmation from Marvel that Jenkins is even up for the job, Entertainment Weekly says "several sources close to the project" have confirmed that talks are happening.

Jenkins is also known for her work directing TV episodes, including the pilot for AMC's The Killing, Arrested Development and Entourage.

The project could see Thor exploring The Nine Worlds mentioned in Branagh's film, possibly in a bid to widen the Marvel universe and introduce new characters from those worlds.

"[Thor 2] will primarily be the journey of that character, of he and Jane Foster [Natalie Portman] and how the new dynamic with his father [Odin, played by Anthony Hopkins] is working out, as well as what are the broader stakes for The Nine Worlds," Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige previously told EW. Thor 2 already has a release date set for July 2013 and is expected to start shooting in April 2012. Source: www.totalfilm.com

No director yet for Thor 2 [1st September 2011 16:28:59]

TF thought the search for a Thor 2 director was done and dusted, with TV veteran Brian Kirk (Games Of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Dexter) in talks to land the job.

But an interview with Avengers star Tom Hiddleston ? AKA Loki in Thor ? suggests the post hasn't yet been filled and he hasn't spoken to Kirk.

"I haven't. I also don't know that that's actually confirmed," Hiddleston told MTV. "That's not me being coy. I spoke to Kevin Feige last week on [The Avengers] set and he said, 'Oh no, we haven't got anyone yet. We're thinking about people. I think [Kirk's] name is definitely in the hat, but I don't think anything is solid." Hiddleston said the film would probably start shooting next spring and the storyline will likely pick-up where The Avengers finishes. "In The Avengers he's really dark and kind of sociopathic, or maybe even psychopathic is the word, in a deluded way," he explained. "Obviously I haven't let go of the spiritual damage at the heart of him, it still comes from that lost place, but he's just incredibly nasty. I think that probably in Thor 2... he'll have to take responsibility for what he's done." "The great thing about Loki is there is potential in him for greatness and awfulness, for great heroism and great villainy," Hiddleston continued. "There are still, even within The Avengers, there are moments where you see within Loki a glimmer of hope and that possibility of redemption." Could that see Thor and Loki teaming up?

"I for one am championing the redemption. This isn't definitely going to happen, but I think there would be nothing more awesome than seeing Loki and Thor fight somebody side by side," Hiddleston added. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Thor 2 will be scripted by Don Payne [4th July 2011 11:14:54]

Production on Thor 2 is pushing ahead after the announcement of its 2013 release date ? the godly sequel has just landed a writer in the form of Don Payne.

Payne has worked on a Marvel property before, having been part of a conclave of writers on Fantastic Four sequel Rise Of The Silver Surfer.

He was also responsible for the not-so-super, horribly unfunny Uma Thurman 'comedy' My Super Ex-Girlfriend.

Hopefully he's learnt from the mistakes of those earlier wash-outs and will be able to deliver a decent follow-up to this year's surprisingly solid Thor.

The next announcement for Thor 2 should be a list of contenders for the director's chair ? Kenneth Branagh, who helmed the first film, won't be returning for the sequel.

Let the Darren Aronofsky rumours commence?

Thor 2 opens 26 July 2013. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Thor 2 will land in July 2013 [1st July 2011 09:35:04]

Thor will definitely be heading back to the big screen for a second solo outing after The Avengers.

Marvel and Disney have announced that Thor 2 has been given a release date of 26 July 2013 (for the US - no word on the UK yet).

That means that Thor 2 will take its bow just two months after Iron Man rolls out his third solo feature film, with Iron Man 3 due 3 May 2013.

Though Thor's early trailers generally generated shrugs around the Total Film office, the film itself surprised us with its rich storyline and well-placed humour.

The film's now grabbed $437m in worldwide ticket sales, which justifies Marvel's decision to turn the film into its own mini-franchise (at least at the business end).

Sadly, one of Thor's pivotal figures won't return for Thor 2 ? director Kenneth Branagh is only sticking around in a producing capacity. Shame. Source: www.totalfilm.com