Thor, the man with the literal hammer (as opposed to the metaphorical, Doctor Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog variety), is back, and this time he’s bypassed the Shakespearean father-brother drama of his first film for potential girlfriend issues. All of that and more in the first trailer for Thor: The Dark World:
So, now we know what happens in this movie: an imprisoned Loki at least temporarily joins the side of good because his frenemy Thor desperately needs his help. Granted, that only occupies the last 10+ seconds of a 1 minute, 45 second trailer, but it’s clearly the most important part, right? I say this after a trailer which implies the death of a major character, thus is my love for the character of Loki. Although can we take a moment to ask what the hell is up with his hair?
Who can pull of this look? Rock stars…and Loki.
With principal photography having just wrapped in December of last year for a down-the-road November 2013 release, Thor: The Dark World is far from being a finished product at this point. Plus, although the trailer presents us with a linear narrative it’s entirely possible that not everything happens in the film the same order in which it is depicted in the trailer. Caution is always advised when it comes to film trailers, although especially so with such an early trailer as this one. That being said, here are a couple of things to note:
Kat Dennings? Barely In This Trailer
The 2 Broke Girls star was a definite scene-stealer in the first Thor, an effort which has reportedly been rewarded with an expanded role in the sequel. However, we barely see her in the trailer. The news of Dennings’ role being expanded was peculiar considering the assumption that the new film will take place in other realms beyond Earth. From the trailer, Dennings does not appear to be joining Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster in Asgard, at least not at first. It is possible the film will periodically cut back to Earth as Jane’s friends are desperately attempting to bring her back or join her.
Jane Foster Will Actually Have Some Competition for Thor’s Affection This Time Around
I know Jane Foster is played by the gorgeous Natalia Portman and everything, but, bitch, Sif (pictured above) is a freakin’ God with a seriously icy stare. Competition is going to be fierce.
Full disclosure: I was a Marvel comics neophyte when I first saw Thor, and thought Sif (Jaime Alexander) was Thor’s literal sister because at one point early on he responds to her by saying, “True, but I supported you, Sif.” I thought he said “sis” as in short for “sister.” I thought it was strange that from that point forward neither Thor nor Loki ever seem to involve Sif in their family drama even though she’s their sister, but she was such an ancillary part of the film it mattered not. Of course, this is because Sif is NOT related to either of them. In fact, she and Thor have been going to the bone zone in the comics for quite some time, as she and Jane Foster are his primary love interests in the comics.
Based upon the trailer, Thor: The Dark World might be running with the traditional post-meet cute storyline for Thor and Jane where after their adventures on Earth he transports her to Asgard where Odin exposes her to a series of trials in order to earn immortality. In the comics, this storyline lead directly to the romantic pairing of Thor and Sif. So, that quick icy stare we see Sif throw Jane’s way in the trailer? D-R-A-M-A, drama.
New Director. Does It Show?
Original director Kenneth Brannagh? He’s out, off somewhere doing Shakespeare no doubt. Game of Thrones director Alan Taylor is in, making his feature film directorial debut. The sequel will reportedly take place primary on not-Earth, i.e., other realms of space including Asgard and others. As such, worries that the sequel would look like the entire book-ending Asgard sequences from the original might have been waylaid by the presence of battles on Doctor Who-like planets in the trailer, i.e., alien locations which are clearly filmed in and around the UK. Yay for familiarity! Speaking of Doctor Who…
Our First Real Look at Prior Doctor from Doctor Christopher Eccleston as Malekith the Accursed
His voice is featured in the trailer, and we also get a look at him in a battle which apparently threatens the life of Jane Foster. Are we happy to see Eccleston in such a prominent role in a huge film? Or are we kind of sad that he’s playing a character hidden beneath make-up and CGI? I’m going to call it a win.
Thor: The Dark World is due to be released in the US on November 8, 2013.
Here’s the synopsis for Thor: The Dark World:
Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.