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 Soldiers** **and RocknRolla). But this cast keeps on impresssing. Who next, we wonder?