Kenneth Branagh in Talks To Direct Thor

[GreenScar]

Marvel's decisions have been kinda WTF when they are first announced, but thus far, they have done a pretty good job all around.

Emmy Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated Northern Irish actor and film director Kenneth Branagh is in talks to helm a big screen adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Thor. Branagh is an odd choice as he hasn’t directed an action movie in 19 years. And his feature directorial debut of William Shakespeare’s play Henry V is hardly audition material for a big budget American superhero film. But I guess the same could be said for Bryan Singer, before he was brought on to direct X-Men.

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. Branagh’s last directorial effort Sleuth starred Jude Law and Michael Caine, and grossed $703,000 worldwide. His filmography also includes The Magic Flute, As You Like It, Hamlet (1996), Frankenstein (1994) and Much Ado About Nothing.

[GreenScar]

From Variety:

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.

[Heart_Collector]

I believe the quote I heard somewhere (comicbookmovie.com, I believe) about the Thor script was "off the charts awesome". I also heard the required budget would have been about $400 million. Looking forward to this one.

[mikejet]

LOL, when I saw this thread at first I was thinking the page from 30 Rock was going to direct Thor.

[EricJ]

Branagh is an odd choice as he hasn’t directed an action movie in 19 years.

Actually, he has: "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein". End of story.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I think that this is a fantastic choice! Kenneth Brannagh is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the transposing of dramatic aspects of classical theatre material into a film format. His understanding of Shakespeare could come in extreme handy in directing a film based on a character of such epic proportions. I am very intrigued now about this film. I wasn't very interested previously.

[Charles3669]

Originally Posted by Heart_Collector

I believe the quote I heard somewhere (comicbookmovie.com, I believe) about the Thor script was "off the charts awesome". I also heard the required budget would have been about $400 million. Looking forward to this one.

No way 400 is too much for one movie. The LOTR trilogy combined didnt cost 400. No studio would pony up that ammount of lettuce for one movie.

[doctorD]

I'm sure he'll do a good job, but wasn't Matthew Vaughn slated to direct Thor? What happened? This is the second super hero movie he has backed away from. Just curious!

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by doctorD

I'm sure he'll do a good job, but wasn't Matthew Vaughn slated to direct Thor? What happened? This is the second super hero movie he has backed away from. Just curious!

All I know is his contract ran out and he moved onto another project.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by Charles3669

No way 400 is too much for one movie. The LOTR trilogy combined didnt cost 400. No studio would pony up that ammount of lettuce for one movie.

This was the first draft that was estimated at this budget. It went back for rewrites to bring it down.

[SGRSBSKIER]

When Matthew Vaughn was going to direct it was going to need a $300 million budget but he was told to cut to $150 million.

I read somewhere that the budget for all of Marvel's Avenger themed movies will have budgets between $140-$180 million with The Avengers being the most.

Iron Man was $140 million
The Incredible Hulk was $150 million

They have left in those movies:

Iron Man 2
Thor
Captain America
Avengers is supposed to be $180 million

Now they do want to do an Ant-man movie if possible before Avengers but I doubt there is any way they could spend over $100 million on it and make money.

There is supposedly Iron Man 3 planned as the next movie after the Avengers.

[Red Hood]

I've really got into anything related to Thor, I don't know of many people that were.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by SGRSBSKIER

When Matthew Vaughn was going to direct it was going to need a $300 million budget but he was told to cut to $150 million.

I read somewhere that the budget for all of Marvel's Avenger themed movies will have budgets between $140-$180 million with The Avengers being the most.

Iron Man was $140 million
The Incredible Hulk was $150 million

They have left in those movies:

Iron Man 2
Thor
Captain America
Avengers is supposed to be $180 million

Now they do want to do an Ant-man movie if possible before Avengers but I doubt there is any way they could spend over $100 million on it and make money.

There is supposedly Iron Man 3 planned as the next movie after the Avengers.

Iron Man cost $186 million
The Incredible Hulk cost $137.5 million

[GreenScar]

From FirstShowing.net:

Straczynski, known best as the creator of "Babylon 5" and screenwriter of Clint Eastwood's Changeling, has also been writing the most recent issues of Thor since 2007. So his opinion is considerably valid, especially because he's petty well-versed on the character, I'd say. "'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." A strong statement from a rather powerful comic writer.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

From FirstShowing.net:

Straczynski, known best as the creator of "Babylon 5" and screenwriter of Clint Eastwood's Changeling, has also been writing the most recent issues of Thor since 2007. So his opinion is considerably valid, especially because he's petty well-versed on the character, I'd say. "'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." A strong statement from a rather powerful comic writer.

And from someone who hasn't seen "As You Like It". Oh, merciful heavens.