ME THOR, YOU JANE
Thor: The Dark World will pick up where the original left off in terms of Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who we last saw shoehorned into Avengers Assemble on a computer monitor. Head of Marvel, Kevin Feige, said her relationship with the God of Thunder will intensify, but Thor will have been affected by what’s happened in the meantime. In the comics, Thor whisked Jane to Asgard, where she was given immortality and the power of the gods until she failed to pass the tests of courage that Odin put her through.
THE VILLAIN
Current buzz puts The Enchantress Amora in the frame as Thor’s next nemesis. In the comics, she hails from Asgard and is ordered to kill the Thunder God’s squeeze, Jane, but she wants him for herself. Christopher Eccleston has signed on for the sequel, and will play Malekith the Accursed. Feige has confirmed that Thanos, the villain we saw during the end credits of Avengers Assemble, won’t be showing his CGI face again for some time.
GRITTY ASGARD
Director Kenneth Branagh has bowed out of the franchise, ushering in Game Of Thrones’ Alan Taylor. Star Chris Hemsworth is excited by the news, telling MTV, “Game of Thrones had a real mythical element to it, but it was rooted in such an organic and tangible world. I think Asgard could really benefit from that sort of a grittier, aged feel to it and not so ethereal.” It will be less medieval and more Viking-like, says Marvel, taking Thor back to where the Norse mythology grew from.
IS LOKI REFORMED?
Thor’s younger brother will have a part in the sequel, but he’s had his day as the villain. Actor Tom Hiddleston wants to see him suffer for his sins, “I’d like to take him to absolute rock bottom,” he told MTV, “It would be fun to see him see the light again and be recruited to the good side.” So perhaps he will join forces with Thor and his band of warriors that now includes Chuck’s Zachary Levi. He’s replacing Josh Dallas (Once Upon A Time) in the film as Fandral.
THE NINE REALMS
We’ll discover what’s been going on in the nine realms without the Asgardians being able to use the Bifrost. Hemsworth has been vocal about his desire to show explore more realms, echoing the thoughts of fans who thought he spend too much time on Earth. We’ve already seen three of the worlds: Asgard, Midgard (Earth) and Jotunheim, land of the Frost Giants. Realms we’d like to see are Niffleheim, where the dead are ruled over by the Asgardian goddess (and Loki’s daughter) Hela; and Muspelheim, home to the fire demons.
Thor: The Dark World will hit cinemas November 15, 2013.
