Marvel... finds a way. Unusually for Friday, a day when bad news is usually dropped to guarantee minimum coverage, Kevin Feige and the MCU bosses have announced some very, very good casting news for Thor: Ragnarok – Jeff Goldblum and Karl Urban are joining the film!
While the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson and Cate Blanchett had all been at least rumoured if not confirmed, Goldblum and Urban are surprises. But now they're all official, listed by Marvel alongside returning regulars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba and Anthony Hopkins.
Plus now we know who the newcomers will be playing, with Goldblum as Grandmaster, one of the Elders of the Universe, Thompson as Valkyrie, Urban as Skurge AKA The Executioner and Blanchett as the scheming Hela.
“The continuation of the epic Thor franchise will be powerful and unique, and with the additions of Cate, Jeff, Tessa, Karl, and Mark to the cast we have the makings of his most dangerous and heroic adventure yet,” Feige says. “The sheer, raw talent each of these actors brings to the screen can’t be quantified. Having any one of them join the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be an honor, and having all of them is incredible."
What We Do In The Shadows' Taika Waititi is preparing to direct the film from a script that has seen work form Stephany Folsom, Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost. The cameras are set to start rolling this year in Australia for an October 27, 2017 release in the UK, ahead of the movie's November 3 debut in the States.
And if this news has put you in a Goldblum sort of mood, check out the cover for the July issue of Empire...