Wishing Upon A Branagh...

A new fairy godmother...

Looks like someone is still going to the Ball...

Walt Disney Pictures is negotiating with Kenneth Branagh to direct the live-action version of "Cinderella" according to a new article over on Vulture.  This comes soon after news hit that Mark Romanek had departed the project.

Branagh is no stranger to classic stories with his updated adaptations of "Much Ado About Nothing," "Henry 5," and "Hamlet" among others.  And he doesn't have a problem with guys dressed in period costumes like that little film called "Thor" a couple years ago.

He has had a relationship with the Mouse through Marvel, so it should be interesting seeing him work on this new interpretation of the classic tale.  Cate Blanchett is still attached to play the wicked stepmother, but no one has yet tried on the glass slipper, although Saoirse Ronan has been rumored to be flirting with the role.

Then of course, they have to bring Bob Hoskins out of retirement to do a mo-cap mouse...

Thunderous Poster...

By Odin's beard...






Behold the one sheet, mortals...

The black and white, and red poster for Marvel Studios "Thor" is out. It looks nice enough, but I'm getting a little tired of seeing posters with the lead character looking over his shoulder at you. Drew Struzan where are you? How about a cool action scene from the film instead of just him standing there.

I wish this film all the best, but seeing a god drive a pick-up truck is a little hard to believe...

Portraits Of Odin's Son...

God of Thunder...



And Rock & Roll...
No sooner has concept art for 2011's Captain America been released than the God of Thunder's is revealed through the clouds...

And by clouds, I mean Cloud, as in the Internet. It looks like the same artist that worked on Marvel's other productions has rendered these pieces of Chris Hemsworth as the Marvel character in next years film. Go over to Collider and check them both out and in higher resolution.

Because nothing says Mighty Thor like higher resolution...

Thy Story Begins Lensing Today...

I forgot about this...

Today, principal photography began on Marvel Studios film adaptation of the comic character "Thor." Kenneth Branagh enters the world of geekdom today and will hopefully be worshipped alongside such heroes as Bryan Singer and Jon Favreau after we watch it on the silver screen. I'm rooting for him. I know it's not the script I read, but I'm trusting that Marvel knows how to treat their characters far better than the studio suits of the past. Particularly the ones in charge of Thor's last incarnation alongside the Incredible Hulk back in the 80's. Truly horrible, but not as bad as the Captain America of the 70's. Amazing how far comics have come over the past couple of decades, isn't it?

By the beard of Odin this sounds exciting...

Who's Your Daddy...

Yet another great American actor joins the adaptation of Marvel Comics' "Thor" film...

Anthony Hopkins is in final negotiations to join the Kenneth Branagh production as Odin, the father of the God of Thunder. This coming after the false news that was circulating a week ago about Robert De Niro and Jude Law joining the film.

A decade or two ago and no one would have believed that rumor. With the power and prestige that has come to these pop-culture creations even those rumors had enough believability to be taken seriously. It shows that the caliber of actors in this film will be amazingly high.

Comic book adaptations have come a long way since the 1930's and 40's when they were relegated to appearing in low budget serials. Studios of the day thought they were beneath appearing in major motion pictures and put them in the back of the cinematic bus. Now they are becoming tent pole films with top stars and huge budgets.

Times change...

What? Are You Casting Me!?

Well now, this is turning into one interesting super hero film...

The casting of two more stars has quietly leaked out and it's another surprising pair. Not exactly who you'd expect to see with someone wearing their underwear on the outside of their clothes.

Robert De Niro and Jude Law have joined the cast of Kenneth Branagh's upcoming Marvel feature. The German edition of Gentlemen's Quarterly seems to be giving us the scoop.

I'm trying to imagine what parts these guys are playing. This certainly ain't the script I read a couple years ago. I just hope with all that talent this interpretation is as good as the one I read. I look forward to the interesting events that unfold around this film.

It looks like this slowly becoming the "it" comic book adaptation...

Hat Tip to Ain't It Cool News.

More Gods...

Marvel keeps adding to the cast of their new "Thor" feature...

The production has cast Jaimie Alexander as Sif, an Asgardian warrior and former lover of Thor, while Colm Feore will play a secondary villain under Tom Hiddleston, who will play Loki.

I truly hope that they've retained most of the script I read. I know that part of this one is set in the modern day world, which worries me. The original was very faithful, following closely to Walt Simonson's run on the character, but being a Norse myth, it set the events on Earth in the ancient world of the Vikings and it was truly epic. Here's crossing fingers and wishing for the best. Mark Protosevich seems to have bad luck with great scripts. Zack Stentz will hopefully enhance and not take away from the brilliance of Protosevish's script. Unlike "I am Legend," which went from great to average under the guidance of Akiva Goldsman.

Time will tell...

Thor Finds His Maiden...

Well I can tell this script is definitely different than the version I read...

If you haven't heard, Natalie Portman has been cast in the new Marvel Studios "Thor" as Jane Foster. So now that I've heard that I know that the draft I read has been changed dramatically. I can only hope that it's still a great script, as the one I read is one of the 5 Best Scripts Never Made. That version was set in Asgard and a cold, cruel, blood drenched world of vikings. I loved that story. It was pitch perfect "The Mighty Thor" without trying to cast him as a superhero in tights, much closer to the Walt Simonson stories of the 80's. This new take is a balanced one I hope. The change to a modern world was done for the sake of making sure Thor could appear in The Avengers film and while I don't mind him appearing in it, I'm uncomfortable with changing a brilliant tale simply for the sake of synergy and marketing.

Still, Natalie is a great actress; especially when given a good script (hear that, George?), and Kenneth Branagh is assembling a fantastic cast.

By Odin's Beard, I'm crossing my fingers that it all comes together...

Marvel Finds Their Trickster...

Another piece of Kenneth Branagh's puzzle falls into place...

No sooner have they named(not officially) the hammer holder himself than they announce who will be his nemesis in the upcoming film. Again, I'm glad they didn't just go with a star(Disney are you listening?) and picked an unknown. I know Josh Hartnett had been talked about for the role, but he's way too buff to play this character and doesn't have the range for part if it's the same character from the script I've read. Loki is a tormented villain. He's definitely evil, but complex and not a cardboard cutout supervillain. Tom Hiddleston looks exactly right. I like the direction they're going in. Maybe they plan on using an older famous actor as Odin and that way they'll appease the Suits with a name.

But right now I'm happy the direction this is headed...

Your God Of Thunder Has Been Chosen...

It appears Kenneth Branagh has chosen his Thor...

And it appears to be a pretty good choice. Chris Hemsworth who was last seen as the father of James T. Kirk in the new "Star Trek" series will play the long blond haired, hot tempered Marvel superhero. I was very worried that a Pro-Wrestler would get the gig. From what I hear the audition went pretty good and I trust Branagh as he's someone that knows how to stage something like this. I only hope they stick to the script I read. I really don't want to see the son of Odin turn into an ordinary doctor. I was always fond of the Walt Simonson stories which are what the Mark Protosevich script was really like.

Developing...

Thundering Forward...

Those of you that remember my post a while back about the "The 5 Best Scripts Hollywood Never Made" will be glad to know that one of those projects is moving forward...

The Mighty Thor, or just Thor is progressing further in pre-production and has gotten a fantastically perfect person to direct it. Kenneth Branagh, who I think is near perfect to adapt this material, but the only downside is...

It won't be the script I was talking about. As good as it was, it apparently wasn't good enough for Marvel and they, along with Branagh are moving forward with another script. Hopefully it'll be as good as the Mark Protosevich draft, but I doubt it. Although they do have a great screenwriter working on it, I'm biased.

Here's hoping...