Northern Irish Actor/Director Kenneth Branagh in Talks to Helm ‘Thor’
Northern Irish actor and film director Kenneth Branagh is in talks to helm the big screen adaptation of Marvel Comics’ ‘Thor.’
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has tipped Branagh for the project, despite the fact the director hasn’t really helmed an action-heavy film since his debut on ‘Henry V’ almost twenty years ago (though Branagh did recieve an Oscar nomination for the flick).
Branagh is the latest in a string of directors – such as Jon Favreau (Iron Man), Christopher Nolan (the Batman franchise) and Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) – with arthouse roots taking on big-budget comicbook fare.
Written by Mark Protosevich, the story begins as the arrogant God Thor is sent by his father Odin to learn humility in the body of a partially disabled medical student Donald Blake. He discovers Thor’s hammer and learns to change back and forth into the Thunder God.
Marvel will self-fiance the production, and a distributor is expected to be announced shortly. Marvel has announced a June 4th 2010 release date for the film.
Branagh will next be seen in Bryan Singer’s’ Valkyrie’ this December.