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Idris Elba — who starred in last year’s RocknRolla and in last season of The Office — has joined the Marvel Studios production of Thor, says Heat Vision. Elba will play Heimdall, the guardian of Asgard, who stands on the BiFrost Bridge ready to defend the city from intruders. For ages, he stood as the guardian of Asgard, defending the city’s gates from any intruders, and was one of the most trusted servants of Odin.

Heimdall is a character in the comics who battled Thor on many occasions, often battling Thor in order to restrain him at the behest of either Odin or Loki. So if we’re lucky, we might get to see Elba kick some ass against Chris Hemsworth. In my mind, the more ass-kicking, the better.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Thor stars Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek), Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Jamie Alexander, Colm Feore, Samuel L. Jackson, Stellan Skarsgard, Stuart Townsend, Ray Stevenson and Tdanobu Asano. The comic book pic is scheduled for release by Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios on May 20, 2011. Shooting begins in mid-January in Manhattan Beach, California.