Kenneth Branagh talks Thor

While I’m a big Kevin McKidd fan — I mean, he was terrific in HBO’s Rome — I don’t see Kevin getting this gig. I think they’re trying for a bigger a-lister. I mean, Tony Stark was Robert Downey Jr., Hulk was Ed Norton — so Thor will be a well-respected but relatively unknown British actor? I actually think Brad Pitt would be decent in this — and I’m not a Pitt fan — but he’s a bit wooden, a bit not, um normal? We’ll here’s Ken talking about the Marvel project…

“I am directing “Thor” or “The Mighty Thor’ as you might like to call it,” he said with a smile before clarifying what the title of the film will be. “I think it will be ‘Thor’.”

MTV has spoken to other writers about why Branagh would be such a good fit for the hero. But here was finally an opportunity to hear from Branagh about what appealed to him about the project. So what’s the appeal of “Thor,” Kenneth? “To work on a story about one of the immortals, Gods, extraordinary beings, inter-dimensional creatures,” he enthused.

He continued excitedly, “There’s science fiction and science fact and fantasy all woven into one. It’s based on Norse legends which Marvel sort of raided in a brilliant way.

So who will play Branagh’s hero? Asked about the rumors of Kevin McKidd being up for the role, the director waved it off as premature speculation.

“There’s been lots of talk [about casting] — I sound like a politician — but we are too early at this stage. We’re getting the story and the visual effects together and all of that is very exciting. Someone sensational is going to play the part but it is early days.” – from Splashpage