Given the sense of Norse (via alien Asgard) pomp and circumstance Kenneth Branagh and Marvel brought to Thor, we’re frankly surprised the quest to find a director for the sequel hasn’t turned into some sort of legendry competition, with applicants forced to remove a sword from a stone in a myth-mixing show of power. But no, it’s actually just been the usual old set of Hollywood swings and roundabouts, with Alan Taylor now the chosen one.

Who he? Well, it would seem that Marvel is committed to finding someone with Game Of Thrones experience as Taylor is credited with some of the show’s best episodes, including the first season finale. He’s also worked on other shows, including The Sopranos, Lost, Deadwood and The West Wing.

And Taylor’s not even the first name from Thrones to be linked to the Thor Job – fellow show director Brian Kirk was rumoured back when Branagh decided not to return for the second outing. According to the Heat Vision blog, Taylor won the chance over another Thrones man, Daniel Minahan.

But most recently, it appeared that Monster director Patty Jenkins would be guiding the hero’s future, before either ditching the gig over “creative differences” or being shown the door thanks to Marvel’s concerns about the need to hit the pre-ordained release date of 15 November 2013.

So while Taylor is sitting in the chair right now, we’ll wait and see if he’s still there when the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman return to the set and the cameras roll…