We already knew that tiny-eyed Chris Hemsworth (Capt. Kirk’s dad at the beginning of Star Trek) was going to play the mighty Thor in the Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of the Marvel comic, but now we can add the leading lady to the cast. While she’s been rumoured for a role in the film for a while, Natalie Portman has now been confirmed as the actress who’ll be playing Jane Foster in Thor. That character’s inclusion in the movie suggests the film will mainly involve the Norse God coming to Earth and falling for the shapely Foster.
This fits with Marvel’s assertion that the film will, “Span the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.”
That villain is the mischivous Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston.
It’s a slightly different role for Portman, who’s shied away from blockbusters since her Star Wars day, but could be a good move, as the fantasy angle makes Thor a rather different type of film to other comic book adaptations. Let’s just hope they give her a bit more to do than most female roles in these sorts of films.