Kenneth Branagh in talks to direct Marvel’s “Thor”

Movies News

By Patrick Luce Sep 29, 2008, 14:20 GMT

Although he is best known for his heavy drama work, Kenneth Branagh is in talks to direct Marvel Comics’ next big screen adaptation, "Thor." The live-action film is scheduled to hit theaters in 2010. Kenneth Branagh could be taking on the Norse god Thor for Marvel Comics.
Kenneth Branagh -

Kenneth Branagh could be taking on the Norse god Thor for Marvel Comics. Kenneth Branagh - "Sleuth" London Premiere - Arrivals - Odeon Leicester Square - London, England © Solarpix / PR PhotosVariety reports Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige’s picking of Branagh is a bit of a surprise given he isn’t known for blockbuster action films, but the choice does follow a trend of picking directors that don’t seem suited for the comicbook world – such as Jon Favreau ("Iron Man"), Christopher Nolan (“Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight”) and Gavin Hood ("X-Men Origins: Wolverine").Marvel has yet to find a distributor for “Thor,” but is expected to settle on a studio soon. The film adaptation is written by Mark Protosevich, and will follow a disabled medical student Donald Blake who becomes Norse god Thor. Marvel is set to self-finance the film through its $500 million credit with Merrill Lynch. Marvel used the same system to fund "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk." It is expected to do the same thing for the “Iron Man” sequel that is in the works with director Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. Branagh’s involvement in “Thor” comes after he is earning strong reviews for his work on the London stage in the title role of "Ivanov.” The actor is also set to return to the screen in Richard Curtis’ "The Boat That Rocked" and the Bryan Singer’s "Valkyrie."