Director Branagh Talks THOR… IRON MAN 2 To Have Surprises That Connect To CAPTAIN AMERICA

Hero Complex had a productive chat with Kenneth Branagh, the great actor who’s directing Marvel’s upcoming live action movie THOR. He’s the biggest THOR fanboy there is, which makes him the right man for the job, just like Jon Favreau has been a fan of IRON MAN ever since he could remember, so those of you who may have had doubts about Branagh, should have nothing to worry about…

“Growing up, my single comic book passion was Thor,”
“From my time in Belfast as a kid, that’s the first time I came across that comic, really, exclusively, I don’t know why, but it struck a chord. I was drawn to it. I liked all the dynastic drama.”

Some considers the story being split between Asgard and the modern world as a challenge,.. Branagh sees it more as an opportunity…

“Inspired by the comic book world both pictorially and compositionally at once, we’ve tried to find a way to make a virtue and a celebration of the distinction between the worlds that exist in the film but absolutely make them live in the same world,”
“It’s about finding the framing style, the color palette, finding the texture and the amount of camera movement that helps celebrate and express the differences and the distinctions in those worlds. If it succeeds, it will mark this film as different…. The combination of the primitive and the sophisticated, the ancient and the modern, I think that potentially is the exciting fusion, the exciting tension in the film.”

There was a rumor spread by New York Daily News suggesting that star Anthony Hopkins and director Kenneth Branagh didn’t get along on the film set, which is NOT true, both sides have denied such bullcrap.
THOR is currently filming in Santa Fe, New Mexico

“We’re in New Meixco now where we have a contemporary Earth part of our story. I guess we’re two-thirds of the way through the story and at this stage of the game what’s surprising and delighting me is the way the cast, the ensemble, has fused together. It’s kind of an interesting combination of very young and very experienced people and the double-up of that, it seems to me, is there is a lot of fire in the movie. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, it doesn’t try to be too solemn.”

On another note, Marvel honcho, Kevin Feige revealed that IRON MAN 2 will have surprises that set up an unexpected bond to THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA, directed by Joe Johnston, starring Chris Evans..more of that crossover awesomeness..

“Now many of the pieces are in place … with ‘Iron Man 2′ finished and ‘Thor’ more than halfway done, that lattice work is being built.”

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, in THOR, Chris Hemsworth portrays the title character with Tom Hiddleston in the role of Thor’s brother Loki, and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. Additionally, the studio has cast Academy Award® winning actor Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Renee Russo as Frigga, Ray Stevenson as Volstagg, Tadanobu Asano as Hogun, Josh Dallas as Fandral, Jaimie Alexander as Sif, Idris Elba as Heimdall, as well as Colm Feore, Kat Dennings and award-winning actor Stellan Skarsgård. The film is slated for release in theatres domestically on May 6, 2011 via Paramount Pictures which will also release the film on a worldwide basis.

The epic adventure THOR spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

The screenplay for THOR was penned by Mark Protosevich as well as Ashley Miller & Zack Stentz, and Don Payne. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige will produce the film. Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel, and Marvel Studio’s Co-President, Louis D’Esposito, will executive produce.