Thor... With Branagh? Verily?

[Compound]

By Thor's hammer! (via Variety)

Branagh in talks to direct 'Thor'
Brit set to wield hammer on Marvel Studios pic
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Kenneth Branagh is negotiating to direct "Thor," the next Marvel Comics property that will be turned into a live-action film by Marvel Studios. Pic will be released in 2010.

Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige's choice of Branagh is surprising, as Branagh hasn't really directed an action-heavy film since his debut on "Henry V," a bloody telling of the British king's conquest of France.

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.

Marvel will set a distributor for "Thor" shortly.

"Thor" comicbook adaptation, penned by Mark Protosevich, follows disabled medical student Donald Blake, who has an alter ego as the hammer-wielding Norse god Thor.

Marvel will self-finance the film via its $500 million credit facility through Merrill Lynch. Marvel used that coin to fund both "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" and will do the same for the "Iron Man" sequel that has director Favreau and star Robert Downey Jr. returning.

The "Thor" negotiations come during a resurgence for Branagh. He's currently drawing raves on the London stage in the title role of "Ivanov," and he'll next be seen acting in the Richard Curtis-directed "The Boat That Rocked" and the Bryan Singer-helmed "Valkyrie."

Branagh is repped by Endeavor and manager Judy Hofflund.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117993032.html

Zounds! Well, if anyone can make pseudo-Shakespearean dialog work, it's Branagh. Hell, even Keanu wasn't bad in "Much Ado."

[mrbasehart]

Yeah, I read that over at imdb.  It's certainly an interesting choice, and it shows Marvel's desire to make something a little more than just a popcorn movie with Thor, I just wonder how Branagh's sensibilities will fit with the movie.  The last sort of film he made like this was 1994's Frankenstein, which wasn't very good...

[BBQ Platypus]

I'm trying to come up with a good Shakespearean superhero joke here, but it's just not coming to me.  Could someone help me out here?

[Junkyard]

Bragnha agreed to direct Thor?
What  a noble mind is here o'erthrown!

[Plastic Self-Cleaning Duck]

Zounds!

Does this mean that there will be a part where Thor disquises himself as a girl, falls in love with the sister of the master of the house he goes to work for while said master of the house falls in love with him?

[Johnny Unusual]

What happened to Matthew Vaughn?

[RobtheBarbarian]

Stan lee hefted his foe-of-maille and hurled it at Branagh's chest.

"I see sophisticated comic book movies are in fashion these days," he said, and died.

[Chaos]

I'm trying to come up with a good Shakespearean superhero joke here, but it's just not coming to me.  Could someone help me out here?

Just keep trying, you'll get there. Or, you know, give up.

To put it another way, "Hold, or cut bowstrings."

[mrbasehart]

I'm trying to come up with a good Shakespearean superhero joke here, but it's just not coming to me.  Could someone help me out here?

Just keep trying, you'll get there. Or, you know, give up.

To put it another way, "Hold, or cut bowstrings."

All I got is:

"A Norse! A Norse! My kingdom for a Norse!"

[RobtheBarbarian]

Close the thread, it's all over. He won.

[Plastic Self-Cleaning Duck]

Seconded.

[BBQ Platypus]

Thirded.

[Johnny Unusual]

I hereby call this thread adorned.  And may God have mercy on your souls.

[Folly]

....just so long as it isn't like the old tv show.

Then again, it would certainly be good for some laughs.

[Plastic Self-Cleaning Duck]

....just so long as it isn't like the old tv show.

Then again, it would certainly be good for some laughs.

Ah....good ol' Filmation.

The animation company that used a whole three animation cells per show....