Marvel has officially announced the cast of their upcoming film Thor: Ragnarok. As posted today on Marvel.com, it has been confirmed that the third Thor film will feature the likes of Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, and Tessa Thompson.
The announcement also delivered the very first piece of promotional artwork from Thor: Ragnarok featuring the silhouette of Blanchett as the villain Hela.
Among the returning cast members from previous “Thor” features are Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Idris Elba (Heimdall) and Sir Anthony Hopkins (Odin). Also confirming months of rumors and speculation, Mark Ruffalo will indeed be reprising his role as Bruce Banner/The Hulk. Come on, Planet Hulk set-up!
Notably absent from the announced cast was previous standouts from Thor films: The Warriors Three (Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg) and Lady Sif. You would think with this movie with the film’s shift back to the Nine Realms that Thor’s fellow Asgardians would be a no-brainer to include. When the announcement was made by Marvel, a fan on Twitter was taken aback and questioned about Sif’s exclusion from the film. Jaimie Alexander, ever so present on social media, made certain to reply and possibly tease her answer (with a wink, no less!)…
Don’t worry 😉 …. https://t.co/LvbYNWmBNa
— Jaimie Alexander (@JaimieAlexander) May 20, 2016
Following the announcement, Marvel Studios mega-producer Kevin Feige took the opportunity to declare his excitement of the additions to the film.
“The continuation of the epic ‘Thor’ franchise will be powerful and unique, and with the additions of Cate, Jeff, Tessa, Karl, and Mark to the cast we have the makings of his most dangerous and heroic adventure yet,” Producer Kevin Feige stated with great pride. “The sheer, raw talent each of these actors brings to the screen can’t be quantified. Having any one of them join the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be an honor, and having all of them is incredible.”
So with these well-known actors attaching themselves to the project, and hence joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, just who will they each portray? That, my friends, was answered today as well.
Cate Blanchett: Hela – First appearing in Journey into Mystery #102 (March, 1964), Hela was born in Jotunheim, the land of the giants. She is the child of Loki (albeit a different incarnation who died during a previous Asgardian Ragnarok) and the giantess Angrboða. When she came of age, Odin appointed her as the Goddess of Death, giving her rulership over the dead in the realms of Hel and Niffleheim.
Karl Urban: Skurge – Journey into Mystery #103 (April, 1964) saw the appearance of this character also referred to as The Executioner. Skurge the Executioner was one of Asgard’s greatest warriors. He was born the illegitimate son of a Frost Giant and a Asgardian from the realm of Skarnheim. Later became a warrior, gaining the name Executioner after fighting in a war against the Storm Giants. He has had countless run-ins with Thor, Loki, The Hulk, and The Avengers.
Jeff Goldblum: Grandmaster – Also known as En Dwi Gast, first appeared in The Avengers #69. He is one of the oldest living beings in the universe, coming from one of the first intelligent races to evolve after the Big Bang. In the comics, he once possessed the Mind Gem, one of the six Infinity Gems, but he lost it to Thanos. He is a cosmic game player whose preferred game is pitting two opposing teams against each other.
Tessa Thompson: Valkyrie – first appeared in The Avengers #83 (December 1970) and has become a mainstay of the superhero team known as the Defenders. An Asgardian by birth, Valkyrie, also known by her real name Brunnhilde, was selected by Odin to lead the Valkyrior, a group of female warriors designated by Odin to bring the souls of slain heroes to Valhalla, just as in Norse mythology.
<all information and bios on characters are referencing the Earth-616 universe. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is based on Earth-199999, however there are no bios to reference from Marvel on this Earth>
