Tweet

Not too long ago — about five months to be more exact — actor Brian Blessed was reportedly in very serious talks to step into Marvel’s next epic comic adaptation, Kenneth Branagh’s Thor, as the title characters godly father, Odin. Since then, we’ve also heard that the role of Odin could be going the way of Stellan Skarsgard, as I surmised in my recent Thor casting breakdown. Well, throw all of that out the window this evening, as we’ve now got something new.

According to THR’s Heat Vision, Anthony Hopkins is “in negotiations” to play the Norse god Odin, and will play father to Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. The movie’s story will see Thor, the god of thunder, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions re-ignite an ancient war. As punishment, Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans. Once here, he learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends dark forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

Odin is the ruler of Asgard, first appearing in Marvel’s Journey into Mystery #86 in 1962. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Hopkins appears to be a simple choice, but one that continues to add gravitas to Kenneth Branagh’s project. The director, working with Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige for the first time, seems hell-bent on putting together a cast with presence and experience. At least, for all but the film’s title role, in which he’s placed Hemsworth, who’s a very fresh face. The casting of Hopkins can only help such a project.

What do you think of Anthony Hopkins as Odin?