Jeff Goldblum talks Thor: Ragnarok’s Grandmaster

If, like us, you’re still a little giddy at the prospect of Jeff Goldblum joining the Marvelverse, allow the man himself to share some of his own enthusiasm about the news. Goldblum, of course, is joining Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins and Tom Hiddleston in Thor: Ragnarok, the Thor threequel. Director Taika Waititi has tapped him to play the Grandmaster, an ancient Elder of the universe with a ken for time travel, possession of an Infinity Stone and a penchant for game-playing in the comic books. He’s also got some other, more, well, relatable interests.

"He’s a hedonist, a pleasure-seeker,” explains Goldblum, "an enjoyer of life and tastes and smells. I thought, ‘I can do that, I’ll bet!’ I’m working on my part every day. I’m a sponge, researching.” He’s putting his unique Goldblum stamp on the role, too. "[Taika Waititi] is encouraging me to improvise and make it my own, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I hope he doesn’t throw me out on the first day!”

Goldblum revealed that he'll be filming for “three weeks or a month” in Brisbane. “Not only Chris Hemsworth, Cate Blanchett, Anthony Hopkins… jeez, that’s gonna be fun. I’ve never been to Australia except to do these little publicity things.”

He’s eager to work with his new boss, too. "I love Taika Waititi,” he enthuses, heaping praise on the Kiwi filmmaker’s vamp comedy What We Do In The Shadows.

Alongside Goldblum, new MCU additions for Thor: Ragnarok include Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Karl Urban as Skurge, AKA The Executioner, and Cate Blanchett as the scheming Hela.

“With the additions of Cate, Jeff, Tessa, Karl and Mark [Ruffalo] to the cast we have the makings of [Thor's] most dangerous and heroic adventure yet,” promises Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige.

For more on the mighty Goldblum in the meantime, Independence Day Resurgence lands in, on or near your local multiplex on June 23. See the great man back in action as big-brained tech David Levinson in this brand spanking new clip from the movie, or read about the movie in the current issue of Empire, onsale now.