Renown Shakespearean director, Kenneth Branagh brought the Odinson to life in the 2011 film Thor. Now it seems Marvel Studios is looking to have lightening strike twice by bringing the filmmaker back for Thor: Ragnarok, the third film in the Asgardian's series.
According to Umberto Gonzalez of Heroic Hollywood appeared on Popcorn Talk:
"I was hearing that Marvel wanted Kenneth Branagh back for ‘Thor 3′. But, he just got an offer to direct ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ at Fox. So, I don’t know if it is going to happen or not. They’re thinking about bringing him back into the fold."
Some have written to me saying that Thor 's first cinematic outing was boring. To those haters, I say this: I hear you. I was expecting more of a character arc for the God of Thunder. I wanted him to really spend time on Earth to understand what it truly means to be humble, like at least a few months. The film I saw felt like Marvel's version of Earth Girls are Easy, where alien Thor just spends a long weekend in New Mexico learning about coffee and that ferrets aren't big enough to ride.
However, I did feel that the film has a strong cinematic style that was lacking in Dark World. Apart from the Earth scenes, the parts of the film that focused on Asgard and the drama from within the royal family was fantastic, fitting for the character and totally up Branagh's alley. Remember, this guy has built a career on bring some of the Bard's best tales to the big screen: Hamlet, Henry V and Much Ado About Nothing. He can direct actors handling tough dialogue that is found in the works of Shakespeare and understands how to navigate them through intricate drama pieces. Branagh has what it takes.
Where Marvel struggles is in the story telling for the character. It seems as though people just don't know how to write Thor and his connections to Earth and non powered folk. He works well with Avengers because they, like him are out siders. If Marvel's team of screen writers can create a compelling story that keeps Thor off world, focused on the familial drama (Loki, Odin) and gives him a complete character arc that doesn't involve him getting back to Earth then Branagh can provide a visually exquisite film with powerful performances. What say you, Branagh? Once more into the breach?