The Avengers EDIT:- First Movie in history to make $200 Million in opening weekend

[Phalanx]

i'm not even convinced they can do cap well.

I can...as long as they don't over-do the uniform. I mean, in the "incredible hulk" the first fight he had with the early version of the "super solider" syrum dosed Emil Blonsky looked pretty good.

I like that they're taking Thor out of Asgard completely, a human side/weakness is something that needs to be there, IMO...I have never much liked the "thor only" stories.

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An apparent casting notice for Marvel's Thor movie has appeared online, which suggests that the filmmakers envision the Norse god of thunder as younger than he's traditionally been portrayed.

Corona Coming Attractions has posted a casting notice it says "comes directly from the production." The notice says that director Kenneth Branagh and company are looking for a male in his mid-to-late 20s, 6' or taller.

The notice describes the character of Thor as "Physically powerful, very handsome, occasionally egotistical, petulant, and wild. A natural warrior with a quick charming wit who must be genuinely and severely humbled before becoming the compassionate, mature hero of our film."

CA adds that Thor will film from July through September.

It should be noted that just because the casting notice says the filmmakers are seeking a twenty-something actor for Thor, it doesn't mean they'll hire one. The James Bond producers were looking at twenty-something and early thirty-something actors to play 007 in Casino Royale before hiring Daniel Craig, who was 37 at the time.

[Zero]

still can't see thor working in the modern world. not really sure how cap will work. hulk and iron man had the advantage of being 'non-human' batman has the advantage of being 'very human' - cap and thor are kind of in-between

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Samuel L. Jackson will reportedly be back in a big way as Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jackson, who made a cameo as Fury at the end of Iron Man, has finally sealed a deal with Marvel to play Fury in up to...not 1, or 2, or 3...but NINE Marvel movies!!

These films are said to include Iron Man 2, The Avengers, The First Avenger: Captain America, and Thor, as well as their respective sequels.

THR adds, "Also on the table is the possibility of toplining a S.H.I.E.L.D. movie, which is in development."

A publicist for Marvel, however, informed IGN, "The story is speculative and Marvel is not confirming the story."

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According to Latino Review, Branagh recently had lunch with Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård, the 32 year-old, 6'4" son of Pirates of the Caribbean and Mamma Mia! star Stellan Skarsgård. The site confirmed that the two did indeed meet at the restaurant mentioned in the article, and that they share the same agency.

Alexander Skarsgård is best known to stateside audiences for his work on the HBO series Generation Kill and True Blood, where he plays Viking vampire Eric Northman.

A casting notice that appeared online recently said the filmmakers are looking for a male in his mid-to-late 20s, 6' or taller. The notice described the character of Thor as: "Physically powerful, very handsome, occasionally egotistical, petulant, and wild. A natural warrior with a quick charming wit who must be genuinely and severely humbled before becoming the compassionate, mature hero of our film."

If Alexander Skarsgård is cast as Thor, one wonders if his dad Stellan will follow suit and play Thor's father Odin.

UPDATE: IESB claims that 30 Days of Night star Josh Hartnett has met with Branagh and "is currently on a very short list" to play Loki, the villainous god of mischief and Thor's half-brother. "Word is Josh and his camp are really interested because he has never played a villain before and after Heath Ledger's Oscar win for the latest comic book villain, Hartnett is intrigued by the character."

In addition to Alexander Skarsgård, IESB reports that G.I. Joe star Channing Tatum is also in the running to play Thor, but that Branagh wants Skarsgård for the part.

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Three Marvel Studios superhero pics will debut in summer 2011, including the May 6 bow of Sony's "Spider-Man 4."

That's to be followed by the June 17 release of "Thor," which was to have opened in summer 2010, and the July 22 opening of "The First Avenger: Captain America." Those two films are being fully financed and produced by Marvel; Paramount is distributing.

As a result of those moves, Marvel announced it's pushing back the release of multicharacter superhero tentpole "The Avengers" from July 15, 2011, to May 4, 2012.

Company said the clustering of "Captain America" and "Thor" will serve as the perfect run-up to "The Avengers," which will unite the Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Incredible Hulk characters.

"This new schedule strongly sequences Marvel's movie debut dates, bigscreen character introductions and momentum," Marvel Studios chairman David Maisel said.

The release date of "Iron Man 2" remains the same: May 7, 2010. Par is again distrib.

Right now, Marvel titles dominate the summer 2011 sked, though most studios have yet to announce their slate. "Avengers" is the first 2012 title to be dated.

[The_Return]

So, shall we assume this means Edgar Wright's Ant-Man project is either dead or not related to the franchise?

[_____V_____]

Originally Posted by The_Return

So, shall we assume this means Edgar Wright's Ant-Man project is either dead or not related to the franchise?

Either that, or the guys at Marvel are assuming the project wont be ready until after summer 2012.

Maybe it could end up as a spinoff from the Avengers flick, who knows.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478970/

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Star Wars veteran Natalie Portman is reportedly the front runner to play the female lead in Paramount-Marvel's Thor movie, to be directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Thor has shifted release dates again -- from June 16, 2011 to May 20, 2011 -- in order to make room for Paramount's newly announced Transformers 3.

Deadline Hollywood Daily doesn't state which female character from the Thor/Marvel universe she'd play.

The site also claims that Marvel is considering Josh Hartnett to play either Thor or his half-brother and archenemy Loki; earlier reports claimed that Hartnett was only in the running for the villain role.

DHD adds that there is a "powerful lobby" seeking to cast unknowns for the roles of Thor and Loki, claiming that "the following actors are being tested:-

• Charlie Hunnam (the British co-star of the F/X series Sons of Anarchy);
• Tom Hiddleston (award-winning British actor and RADA graduate who played Winston Churchill's son in HBO's The Gathering Storm),
• Alexander Skarsgård (Stellan's son who has appeared in the HBO Iraq War miniseries Generation Kill and vampire drama True Blood, and who's definitely visually right for the role),
• Liam Hemsworth (offered a significant role in The Expendables after Sly Stallone saw his tape), and
• Joel Kinnaman (some Danish dude)."

English actor Tom Hiddleston, 28, starred opposite Branagh in the Masterpiece Mystery! series Wallander and the HBO telepic Conspiracy, as well as on-stage in last fall's production of Chekhov's Ivanov. Hiddleston's bio at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art says he stands 6'2" and is certified in stage combat. He won the Laurence Olivier Award last year as Best Newcomer in a Play for his performance in Cymbeline.

In addition to his lead role as Jackson 'Jax' Teller in Sons of Anarchy, English actor Charlie Hunnam, 29, has appeared in Abandon, Nicholas Nickleby, Children of Men, Green Street Hooligans, and Cold Mountain.

Aussie actor Liam Hemsworth, soon to be seen opposite Nicolas Cage in Knowing, starred in the Aussie TV series Neighbours and The Elephant Princess. He's the younger brother of actor Chris Hemsworth, who plays James T. Kirk's dad in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movie.

Danish actor Joel Kinnaman, 29, has starred in a number of films overseas (such as Storm and The Invisible), and shares the same agency as Stellan Skarsgård, who has been rumored for the role of Thor's father Odin. Based on his looks, Kinnaman seems far more appropriate for Loki than for Thor.

[The_Return]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

DHD adds that there is a "powerful lobby" seeking to cast unknowns for the roles of Thor and Loki...

Unknowns for both? Bad idea.