Today's Thor Cast News: Idris Elba Wire actor to play Heimdall Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Another day, another cast member for Kenneth Branagh's Marvel Comics blockbuster Thor. Earlier this week: The Warriors Three (Stuart Townsend, Ray Stevenson and Tadanobu Asano). Today: Heimdall, who'll be played by The Wire and The Office (US) star Idris Elba.
Heimdall is the brother of Sif (Jamie Alexander) and the guardian of Asgard, who stands sentry on the "rainbow bridge" Bifrost, the only way in or out of Chez Odin. He's super-strong and super-fast, and has super-senses that allow him to hear Earth from Asgard (and indeed "to detect the fluttering of a butterfly's wings a thousand worlds away"). He wears excellent armour, and likes an edged weapon, especially his enchanted sword that allows him to assume mortal form.
Weirdly, for someone on the same side, he's given to battling Thor. In his earliest appearances he battled Thor to prevent him entering Asgard, then again to prevent him leaving, and there have been numerous spats since. All about the battling then, but basically, he's on the side of the gods.
Once again, interesting casting, for an actor best known for his scheming and verbose turn on The Wire, and less recognisable for being a badass (although he was in Buffalo Soldiersand RocknRolla). But this cast keeps on impresssing. Who next, we wonder?
L: HAUTORI
Erm, I do wonder though. Isn't the fact that he's black a problem? I'm all for left-field casting, but lets try to keep things in context here. If the Norwegians did worship these gods, then they would have believed them to reflect themselves. And yes, I know this film is hardly Norse mythology 101, but at the very least some adherence to the source texts would be nice and would not feel as out of place. It's like having Gene Hackman playing Nelson Mandela; ergo, great actor he ... Read More
Hey, he'll have to get used to being slated for no logical reason at some point, we all do owever yes you're right, that was probably a bit harsh.
Anyway, Idris Elba - great actor, looking forward to seeing him in this. ... Read More
L: Marwood
L: Elf Odin
"Heimdall is the brother of Sif (Jamie Alexander)". Jamie Alexander is a man; therefor, Sif (in this movie, anyway) must be a man. But in the comic, Sif is a woman! Is Branagh altering history to court the LGBT community?
o Branagh isn't altering the gender because Jamie Alexander is a woman, check the facts before posting otherwise your outrage at a nonexistent problem makes you seem like a tool.
sp;
trebuchet ms"]Give the man a break, it's his first p... Read More
L: Elf Odin
"Heimdall is the brother of Sif (Jamie Alexander)". Jamie Alexander is a man; therefor, Sif (in this movie, anyway) must be a man. But in the comic, Sif is a woman! Is Branagh altering history to court the LGBT community?
o Branagh isn't altering the gender because Jamie Alexander is a woman, check the facts before posting otherwise your outrage at a nonexistent problem makes you seem like a tool. ... Read More
Erm, I do wonder though. Isn't the fact that he's black a problem? I'm all for left-field casting, but lets try to keep things in context here. If the Norwegians did worship these gods, then they would have believed them to reflect themselves. And yes, I know this film is hardly Norse mythology 101, but at the very least some adherence to the source texts would be nice and would not feel as out of place. It's like having Gene Hackman playing Nelson Mandela; ergo, great actor he may be, but mayb... Read More
"Heimdall is the brother of Sif (Jamie Alexander)". Jamie Alexander is a man; therefor, Sif (in this movie, anyway) must be a man. But in the comic, Sif is a woman! Is Branagh altering history to court the LGBT community? ... Read More
L: Fever Dog
L: lukeyboy
L: danbo1138
Scandanavian?
None of the cast are Scandinavian - which is a shame. I still think Alexander Skarsgard would've made the best Thor - i guess we'll just have to see how Chris Hemsworth get's on!ote]
How about Alexander's dad, Stellen? He's in it.
sp;
Indeed he is! We still don't know who he's playing though - but it aint Thor that's for sure! ... Read More
L: lukeyboy
L: danbo1138
Scandanavian?
None of the cast are Scandinavian - which is a shame. I still think Alexander Skarsgard would've made the best Thor - i guess we'll just have to see how Chris Hemsworth get's on!ote]
How about Alexander's dad, Stellen? He's in it. ... Read More
