Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily is reporting that Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige and director Kenneth Branagh have found their Thor and it’s Chris Hemsworth, who millions have now seen playing George Kirk in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek. At the same time, the 25-year-old Australian actor, who got his start on the popular local television show “Home and Away,” is also reported to play the lead in MGM’s remake of Red Dawn, taking over the role of Jed Eckert, originally played by Patrick Swayze. (A MGM representative has confirmed with CS that Hemsworth will be playing the role in Dan Bradley’s Red Dawn.)
As has been standard, there is no comment or confirmation from Marvel Studios, but one expects if it is true, it will be confirmed by Monday. UPDATE: Variety confirms that Hemsworth is in final negotiations for the role of Thor, and Nikki says that Marvel will be releasing a press release announcing the casting, as well as other casting for the movie sometime tonight.
You can read Nikki’s report on how and why Hemsworth got the role (and who he was in competition with) over on Deadline Hollywood Daily and then let us know what you think of this casting below.
Thor is scheduled to open on May 20, 2011, while Red Dawn is scheduled for release on September 24, 2010.
