Why Kenneth Branagh Will Direct 'Thor' Movie
Internet fanboys have been scratching their heads all week ever since the news was released that Kenneth Branagh is in talks to direct Thor, the upcoming film based on the Marvel Comics series about the Norse god of thunder. Branagh is an actor known primarily for his adaptations of Shakespeare's Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet, among others, so he might seem like an odd choice to direct Marvel's next comics-based blockbuster.
But maybe this will actually work?
From MTV's "Splash Page" comics and movies blog:
“Honestly, I can’t imagine anyone better suited to this,” said [current Thor comic book writer J. Michael] Straczynski... “Thor, at his best, has always had a classical bent to the character in terms of his history, the way he speaks, and the often Shakespearean intrigues and dramas that surround him. That kind of dialogue and character needs the hand of someone who comes from a theatrical/classically trained background in order for it not to sound forced or artificial. Branagh is absolutely the perfect choice.”
Perhaps credit should be given to director Sam Raimi, whose successful Spider-Man franchise has opened the door for other offbeat auteurs to tackle big-budget comic book action properties. After all, Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight), Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns), and Jon Favreau (Iron Man) all began their careers with independent films before bringing those iconic superheroes to the big screen.
Thor is scheduled for a summer 2010 release.
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