Marvel and director Kenneth Branagh present the epic adventure, ‘Thor,’ which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Check out what Kenneth Branagh and Anthony Hopkins had to say about the film below.

What attracted you to the role?

Anthony Hopkins: My agent phoned me and said “would you like to work with Kenneth Branagh,” I replied “Yeah,” he said “they’re doing Marvel, they want you to play Odin.” I knew he was the father of all gods, so I said “ok, why not.” Then I went to meet Ken, he gave me the script and said “if you’d be interested I’d like you to read it.” He’s such an engaging personality, a brilliant man, I said “you’ve got me, whatever you want me to do.” So I read it and phoned him back I said “I’d love to do it.”

He was the main attraction for this, he’s a superb actor himself, he’s a wonderful actor and also a wonderful director. He’s got that rare ingredient of not only being a great actor, but also a great director, I because think he has no fears, he just does it, breaks all the rules. It was the best time I’ve had on a film in many years.

How was directing Anthony Hopkins in full God-like mode?

Kenneth Branagh: He told lots of great war stories about his time as a young actor, basically, because his first film performance was ‘Lion in Winter,’ when he was about 30 and he was on-screen with Katharine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole and Timothy Dalton and he was just talking about his first time in films. He loved seeing the Chris and Tom at the beginning and these great careers that they’re about to have. That was exciting.

What is it like working with Kenneth?

Anthony Hopkins: When you work with people like Ken, there’s no work involved. The impressive thing with Ken is that he’s the governor, he’s the captain of the ship, that’s the best way I can put it, I sometimes call him governor because you watch him walking around the set and he’s so authoritative, but not in a pompous, big-headed way. He’s got a great sense of humour, great sense of passion, great human drive, he has a great philosophical insight into life. He inspires people, he certainly inspired me. He gave me back my (long pause), confidence, made me feel I had my chops still, made me feel I can still do it. I was beginning to feel a little jaded over the last few years, thinking I should just put my feet up and relax. He pushes you to the nth degree and I think that’s what he does with everyone. He never does it with malice, it’s always getting the best out of people, it’s fascinating watching him work. I think that’s the overall impression of this whole experience, it was fascinating.

How important was it to nail the relationship between Thor and Loki?

Kenneth Branagh: Well we felt that in terms of the approach, the approach was three-fold. It was to definitely be on a contemporary Earth, to bring this story to Earth and to bring humour to the story and then to both create characters and cast it with a kind of detail in the characterisations and in the execution that was as real as we could be. It’s a relative reality in a comic book movie but I think what works very well is when the boys, who’ve done wonderful jobs in it, I think, catch your breath by the intensity with which they feel things. So when you’re rehearsing with the two of them and Anthony Hopkins and talking about that dynamic between two rival-some boys and a father who is demanding, and you’ve got some scenes that can take the intensity and passion that can spring from some of those challenges, it felt as though that would be part of what distinguished the film and make it a little different. We could do that in the drama depending on who we cast and how they did it, and I think they both did a fantastic job.

How easy do you find it to mix your careers as an actor and as a director?

Kenneth Branagh: I try and follow my instinct, I try and listen when I have an opportunity to choose, which isn’t always, but when I do, I try and listen for the instinct of what I think will make me feel passionate and engage me and I follow that and work out. It’s not a question of “oh, I’ll direct” or “now I’ll act” because life doesn’t work like that, it’s just where does one’s sort of artistic instinct take one? And it’s still taking me to both places. Actually as an actor, one of the most exciting things is working with Chris, Tom and with the rest of our cast, that’s wonderful. There’s actually a great thrill in watching how other people do it. They always do it differently and it’s great to learn from these guys and I unquestionably have, and from the more established members of the cast like Anthony and Natalie. As an actor it’s a great privilege, and it actually sends me back into acting with fantastic relish and ready to steal everything that I’ve learned from these guys.

By the beard of Zeus. By the power of Greyskull. By the hammer of Thor, the epic adventure follows the story of  the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Thor is Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Check out what Chris Hemsworth had to say about the film below. Look out for Thor swinging his hefty hammer at a cinemas in both 2D and 3D April 29th in the UK and May 6th in the US.

When did you first become aware of Thor?

Chris Hemsworth: It was pretty much when I got the part, six months before I received a stack of comic books. I knew vaguely a little bit about the character, I wasn’t sure where from. I probably knew more about the Viking/Norse mythology sort of section of it all. But when I got the part it was about educating myself and going through all the books.

There’s this great competitive relationship between Thor and Loki in the movie, how important was it to nail that core relationship?

Chris Hemsworth: We had a great time working together. Sometimes you get lucky and you work with people you get along with, that just makes it an easier process, easier to find the little hooks into the relationship. We both know what it’s like to have siblings and have that rivalry and we had so much fun sort of playing around with it.

How did you find the green screen acting?

Chris Hemsworth: We were very fortunate, there was actually far less green screen than I think people would imagine. We had these beautiful big sets that we were on and could interact with and be a part of. The smaller piece of green screen that we had, we thankfully had Ken to fill us with a visual and a very vivid picture of what was going on. But it is a whole other skill, it’s a very sort of numbing feeling being on green screen, the hum of the lights, everything’s very hypnotic, you need to really bring your energy up. It’s different to being on a set where big glaciers have been built, or in a big throne room, you really feel like you’re part of that world.

How much does wearing the costume help when getting into character?

Chris Hemsworth: It helped a hell of a lot. I remember first putting the costume on after having read the comic books for the previous six months and imagining how I was going to play this guy and convincing yourself and everyone else that this is what it was going to be. The costumes were so incredibly detailed, plus they sold such an image that when you put it on you REALLY feel like the character. It certainly makes our job easier, it makes you stand different, it makes you walk different, and it was just another layer to add on and work with.

How intimidating was it to be faced by Anthony Hopkins in full God-like mode?

Chris Hemsworth: (Laughs) Walking into this, the idea of standing opposite Anthony Hopkins in God-like, regal outfit, and he has that quality in my mind in every film, was intimidating. But I’ve gotta say the moment I got on set and met him I couldn’t have felt more supported and comfortable. He’s extremely collaborative and kind, he has a great sense of humour. He has a great passion for filmmaking and story-telling, a number of times he’d just turn to me and say “Isn’t this great? Isn’t Ken wonderful?” That was the vibe on set, it was such an enjoyable experience.

Did knowing there was going to be The Avengers movie affect how you played Thor in this film?

Chris Hemsworth: When I came on with Thor there was, yes certainly the knowledge that we would have Avengers in the future. But no, it didn’t affect the way I was playing Thor. Thor was certainly what I had right in front of me, and in order to develop Thor and to use him in Avengers it became about what I had right there and then.

By the beard of Zeus, by the power of Greyskull, by the hammer of Thor – with films release date fast approaching Marvel have released another clip from the flick via Yahoo, featuring Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings and Stellan Skarsgard vising Thor at the hospital. ‘Thor’ features a bumper cast in Hemsworth, Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander, Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Clark Gregg and Colm Feore. Look out for Thor swinging his hefty hammer at a cinema in both 2D and 3D April 29th 2011 in the UK, and May 6th 2011 in the US. 

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, “Thor,” which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Thor is Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

By the beard of Zeus, by the power of Greyskull, by the hammer of Thor – with the release date fast approaching Marvel have unleashed these new TV Spots for the film via Moviefone and Apple. ‘Thor’ features a bumper cast in Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Stellan Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Clark Gregg and Colm Feore. Look out for Thor swinging his hefty hammer at a cinema in both 2D and 3D April 29th 2011 in the UK, and May 6th 2011 in the US. 

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, “Thor,” which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Thor is Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

“A GOD WILL FALL. AN AVENGER WILL RISE.” Marvel have let out the hatch these two new TV Spots for Kenneth Branagh’S ‘Thor.’ The upcoming comic book adaptation stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, Kat Dennings, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Jaimie Alexander, Ray Stevenson, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Clark Gregg and Colm Feore. Look out for Thor swinging his hefty hammer at a cinemas in both 2D and 3D April 29th 2011 in the UK, and May 6th 2011 in the US.

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, “Thor,” which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Thor is Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

By the beard of Zeus, by the power of Greyskull, by the hammer of Thor – Marvel have unleashed these four new images from the film via SpiderMedia. The film features a bumper cast in Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Stellan Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Clark Gregg and Colm Feore. Look out for Thor swinging his hefty hammer at a cinema in both 2D and 3D April 29th 2011 in the UK, and May 6th 2011 in the US. UPDATE - Two posters added.

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, “Thor,” which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Thor is Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

“You, what realm is this?” Marvel have let out the hatch this first clip from ‘Thor,’ showcasing the the mighty ones arrival to Earth and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Professor Andrews (Stellan Skarsgård) and Darcy’s (Kat Dennings) reaction to the confused superhero – it includes tasering. The film also stars Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Jaimie Alexander, Ray Stevenson, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Clark Gregg and Colm Feore. Look out for Thor swinging his hefty hammer at a cinema in both 2D and 3D April 29th 2011 in the UK, and May 6th 2011 in the US.

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, “Thor,” which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Thor is Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

By the beard of Zeus, by the power of Greyskull, by the hammer of Thor – Marvel have unleashed this new IMAX poster adding to the films ever expanding collection of one-sheets. The film features a bumper cast in Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Stellan Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Clark Gregg and Colm Feore. Look out for Thor swinging his hefty hammer at a cinema in both 2D and 3D April 29th 2011 in the UK, and May 6th 2011 in the US. “Courage is immortal.”

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, “Thor,” which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Thor is Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Today IMDB are premiering six brand-new character posters for Marvel’s upcoming flick ‘Thor.’ You can check out the first three posters here – featuring Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins and Idris Elba. The final three posters have now been made available featuring the Oscar winning actress Natalie Portman as Dr. Jane Foster, Tom Hiddleston as Loki and Jaimie Alexander as Sif. You can also check out their respective character description below. Look out for the film in both 2D and 3D April 29th 2011 in the UK, and May 6th 2011 in the US.

“ DR. JANE FOSTER: A brilliant and talented young scientist, Jane began her career doing particle research at Culver University in New York. She continues to do post-doctorate work there in the field of astrophysics. Most recently, she applied for and was given a grant to study anomalous particle phenomena in Puente Antiguo, New Mexico. ”
“ SIF: The most distinguished warrior-maiden in all of Asgard, Sif is known for her boldness, cunning, and weapon expertise. Few can match her in combat… or in beauty. Unlike Thor, she is uninterested in the glamour and theatrics of fame… but like him, Sif craves the thrill of battle and the honor of serving her kingdom. ”
“ LOKI: Younger brother to Thor, the mischievous and clever Loki is jealous of his older brother and often stands in his shadow. But when Thor is banished to Earth, Loki seizes the opportunity to rule Asgard. Through deception and a dangerous alliance, Loki sets his plan in motion and now the fate of the Earth and all the Nine Realms hangs in the balance. ”

By the beard of Zeus, by the power of Greyskull, by the hammer of Thor, IMDB are premiering six brand-new character posters from the upcoming movie ‘Thor.’ Here’s the first three featuring Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Hopkins as Odin, and Idris Elba as Heimdell. You can also check out their respective character descriptions below. Look out for the film in both 2D and 3D April 29th 2011 in the UK, and May 6th 2011 in the US.

“ ODIN: The king of Asgard and father to Thor and Loki, Odin has spent thousands of years establishing a delicate peace across the Nine Realms. But when Thor takes irresponsible actions that threaten that peace, Odin is forced to make the heartbreaking decision to banish him to earth… with the hope that Thor’s time amidst humanity will teach his son humility and allow him the chance to prove himself a worthy successor to the throne of Asgard. ”
“ HEIMDALL: The gatekeeper and sworn guardian of Asgard, Heimdall can focus his extraordinary senses on any world across the cosmos, seeing and hearing all that transpires. These gifts, along with his intimidating size and battle prowess, make him the only Asgardian fit to keep watch for potential threats and defend his kingdom from those who would destroy it. ”