THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Makes RAGNAROK Seems Like A "Run-Of-The-Mill, Really Safe Film"

During a somewhat unique Thor: Ragnarok live commentary, director Taika Waititi revealed that his planned sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder, will be an even crazier experience than his last MCU effort...

By JoshWilding - Apr 10, 2020 02:04 AM EST

Filed Under: Thor: Love and Thunder

THOR was an enjoyable enough origin story for the God of Thunder, while Thor: The Dark World...well, it wasn't exactly a masterpiece! However, with Thor: Ragnarok, filmmaker Taika Waititi completely re-invented the character and delivered one of Marvel Studios' best movies to date.

Boasting unique visuals, some crazy ideas, and plenty of memorable moments, Waititi knocked it out of the park, but he's now told fans that Thor: Love and Thunder will be an even wilder movie.

"It’s so over the top now in the very best way," he revealed during a live commentary Thor: Ragnarok. "It makes Ragnarok seem like a really run-of-the-mill, really safe film. This new film feels like we asked a bunch of 10-year-olds what should be in a movie and we said yes to every single thing."

Well, that sounds like fun!

We already know that Thor: Love and Thunder is going to include Jane Foster transformation into the new God of Thunder, while Valkyrie will be on the hunt for her "Queen" after being named the ruler of New Asgard at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Throw in Christian Bale's involvement, and hints about Beta Ray Bill making an appearance, and this really will be a crazy movie.

Keep checking back here as we'll have much more from the filmmaker as the day goes on!

Which actors were nearly cast in the Marvel Cinematic
Universe? Click on the "Next" button below to find out!

10. Jessica Chastain As The Wasp

When Edgar Wright was still in charge of Ant-Man, he had a very different idea for The Wasp. We don't know whether the plan was still for Hope Van Dyne to be the one suiting up in place of Janet, but the filmmaker was in talks with Jessica Chastain to take on the role...until she turned him down.

It's unclear what about the project didn't appeal to the actress (and why she would think Dark Phoenix was ultimately a better fit for her), but the character would have been totally different.

Evangeline Lilly has done a great job as The Wasp, of course, but it's hard not to get excited about seeing Chastain finally playing a bona fide superhero like this on the big screen. Instead, she chose the worst X-Men movie to date, but here's hoping she bounces back from that...

9. Jim Carrey As Rocket Raccoon

Jim Carrey has shied away from big budget blockbusters in recent years, but he stole the show as the villainous Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog, and fans of the actor are anxious to see what he does next.

However, long before joining that video game franchise, he had the opportunity to board the MCU. Before Bradley Cooper was chosen to play Rocket in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, Carrey was reportedly going head to head with Adam Sandler for the chance to voice the beloved trash panda.

We don't know why this didn't happen, but the character would have been totally different with either one of those actors in the role and Carrey's take, in particular, would have been much different to Cooper's.

8. Mel Gibson As Odin

Mel Gibson has become something of a controversial figure in Hollywood thanks to his personal views, and while he's turned things around in recent years, he wasn't overly popular back in the early 2010s.

In an interview back in 2016, the actor confirmed that, "[I was approached] long time ago to play Thor's dad." He didn't elaborate on what happened, but Marvel Studios presumably thought twice about what that would do for their image, and instead chose the well-respected Anthony Hopkins to play Odin in Thor.

It may have been Robert Downey Jr. who pushed for Gibson to join the MCU after working on Iron Man as there have been rumblings that he wanted the actor/filmmaker to take charge of Iron Man 4!

7. Joaquin Phoenix As Doctor Strange

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch ultimately landed the role of Doctor Strange in the MCU, but Joaquin Phoenix was Marvel Studios' top choice for a time, and it's fair to say his take on the Sorcerer Supreme would have been...unique? You need only look at Joker for proof of that.

Asked why he didn't end up playing the hero, Phoenix recently explained that, "I think they make some great, fun movies. I enjoy those movies sometimes, and I think they keep the f***ing industry going in some ways, so I don't have a problem with it at all. I think everybody was really happy with how things turned out. All parties were satisfied."

It definitely sounds like there were creative differences there, and Phoenix not being someone who wanted to commit to countless appearances in this shared world isn't overly shocking. That was likely the sticking point, and probably explains why he turned the role down.

6. Lindsay Lohan As Maria Hill

Following some questionable decisions a few years back, Lindsey Lohan's career is, well, a complete and utter train wreck. Even after seemingly turning things around, studios are reluctant to hire the actress, and it's hard to believe Marvel Studios would have ever considered doing business with her.

Well, during her documentary series Lindsay, Lohan claimed she wanted a part in The Avengers, but her manager failed to chase it down for her. The role she was referring to was Maria Hill, and that ultimately went to Cobie Smulders.

Believe it or not, Lohan wrote Smulders off as an "unknown," but not only did Marvel Studios make the right decision by not casting the actress, they also dodged a bullet by not taking on someone you have to belive would have been a complete nightmare to work with.

5. Chadwick Boseman As Drax

How crazy would this have been? Talking to The Hollywood Reporter last year, Marvel Studios casting director Sarah Finn told the trade that Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman auditioned to play Guardians of the Galaxy's Drax.

Given how synonymous the actor has become with T'Challa after playing him only a handful of times on the big screen, this one is hard to picture, but the Guardians as we know them would have been undeniably different. Dave Bautista brings something truly unique to the role, and Boseman's take would no doubt make the hero completely unrecognisable.

That wouldn't necessarily have been a bad thing (perhaps his version was going to be a little more comic accurate?), but it's fair to say things worked out for the best by the time all was said and done.

4. Mark Ruffalo As The Hulk

Wait, doesn't Mark Ruffalo already play Bruce Banner/The Hulk in the MCU? Well, yes, but did you know that he was actually director Louis Leterrier's first choice for the role in The Incredible Hulk?

Marvel Studios seemingly disagreed and instead decided to go with Ed Norton, a decision they definitely ended up regretting. After all, had those creative differences with the actor not proved to be such a problem, the second MCU movie probably wouldn't be viewed as its black sheep!

Ruffalo was later announced as the new Hulk in 2012's The Avengers at Comic-Con, but Marvel Studios definitely should have cast him in the first place (even if it was just for the sake of continuity).

3. Emily Blunt As Black Widow

As of right now, Emily Blunt is a fan-favourite choice to take on the role of the Invisible Woman in the MCU, but she's come much closer to playing a couple of other characters in this shared world.

First, she was eyed for Black Widow in Iron Man 2, but concerns about being tied to a big franchise for a number of years forced her to turn Marvel Studios down, so it was ultimately Scarlet Johansson who took on the role of the badass S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Later, she was offered Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger, but scheduling issues stopped that from happening.

It doesn't sound like she's too bothered about missing out on playing these characters, but the hope is that we will now see the British actress join real-life husband John Krasinski in the Fantastic Four reboot.

2. Timothy Olyphant As Iron Man

Since starring in Deadwood, Timothy Olyphant may not have become the world's biggest movie star, but you need only look at his work in the likes of Justified and Santa Clarita Diet for proof that he's a huge talent. Unfortunately, we still haven't seen him in a major comic book blockbuster!

We're not sure why that is, but it may have something to do with what happened to him in 2006/2007.

Olyphant has revealed that he auditioned for the role of Tony Stark in Iron Man the same day as Robert Downey Jr., and he's still waiting to hear back about whether he got the part! He's clearly able to joke about it, but this must have stung, and could be what's put him off from trying again.

1. Sebastian Stan As Captain America

Many fans hoped that Bucky Barnes would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe's new Captain America, but the mantle is instead being passed to The Falcon. However, had things played out slightly differently, Sebastian Stan would have been the one suiting up as the MCU's original Star Spangled Avenger!

During an interview with CNBC, Stan revealed that he auditioned for the role of Steve Rogers, but was told he was not "right for the part." Admitting that it "worked out" in the end, he added that it's important to, "Try not to take things personally, learn how to face rejection, no matter what you do, stay obsessed with it."

It definitely feels like Marvel Studios ultimately made the right decision, and Bucky will soon take centre stage in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier alongside the new Captain America.

Chris Hemsworth Says I Became A Parody Of Myself In Taika Waititi's THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER

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51 Comments

1 2

Kumkani - 4/10/2020, 2:57 AM

I don't mind if it gets crazier, I just want some heart and soul in it too. JoJo Rabbit made me cry in unexpected ways. I want more of that side.

Unites - 4/10/2020, 3:23 AM

@Necropolitan - Agree. But balancing heart / soul and humor / craziness seems really hard though.

DaHyro - 4/10/2020, 2:59 AM

Odin and Miek sex scene confirmed

dracula - 4/10/2020, 3:06 AM

I liked Ragnarok, but hopefully this movie feels less like Flash Gordon and more like Thor

Konel110693 - 4/10/2020, 3:10 AM

So I might get some hate but honestly not excited for this! I really enjoy Waititi movies, but bringing lady thor in the last thing I want is a joke.
I've seen a fair few comments about how Disney probably wont want to go down the serious route with the cancer storyline but I have a massive problem with that.
Lady Thor's run effected me so emotionally reading it, ive never been touched like this from a comic book before. I used to be a nurse so was around alot of cancer patients and how this story wrote jane and the angle it took was wonderful!
I remember when Lady Thor was seen as a gimmick when announced and I was one of these people, but reading it, it had so much substance and I feel if you lose the storyline in the film depending on the angle taking obviously, they could just be taking the gimmick and leaving on the floor what truly made jane a hero that alot of people, especially kids can learn from.

I hope he is able to do it justice!

Unites - 4/10/2020, 3:20 AM

@Konel110693 - I'm sure they will deliver, but if they don't go with the cancer story line (which fits so perfectly with the Aether storyline from Thor 2), that will be a missed opportunity imo.

Tonic24k - 4/10/2020, 5:38 AM

@Konel110693 - Calling something these brilliant minds are working on a joke is a joke. There's the hate you were anticipating. 😉 But for real, if you enjoyed the comic version this much, there is no good reason to think they're not going to bring us something special. Marvel Studios does a fantastic job about staying loyal to the essence of the source material. Some of that I understand is debatable and some may cherrypick a thing or two, but Feige and Co. do it better than any other studio on a consistent basis. I'm confident you will not be disappointed. 😎

asherman93 - 4/10/2020, 3:14 AM

Just promise me it’ll actually be good this time.

Unites - 4/10/2020, 3:21 AM

@repulse93 - Didn't you like Ragnarok?

Franshu - 4/10/2020, 11:50 AM

@repulse93 - Same. Or something that actually feels like a Thor comic, for once.

asherman93 - 4/10/2020, 1:28 PM

@Unites - As time goes on, I’ve been increasingly of the opinion that - outside of Valkyrie, Hela and the fight scenes - Thor: Ragnarok is the worst film in the MCU, and the one film in the MCU that actually supports Scorsese’s argument.

LameLuka - 4/10/2020, 4:19 AM

Didn't like Ragnarok all that much, so I can't say I am that exited for this. My most anticipated MCU movies and shows right now are

Black Widow
Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
WandaVision
Loki
Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Blade
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Eternals

The rest I will catch them in theaters but not that exited as I am for these.

Ace101 - 4/10/2020, 7:31 AM

@LameLuka - you and share the same sentiments, I enjoyed the movie as a movie but as thor movie it's my least favorite in the MCU.

However the Eternals and Shang Chi are at top of my list. With everything from BW to Blade being a close second and GOTG 3 my least anticipated along with Thor Love and Thunder. I didn't think I would say that as Thor is my 2nd fav comic character behind Nova. But hey that's life.

MarvelDCAllDay - 4/10/2020, 6:21 AM

I would kind of argue that Ragnorak kind of was a safe film. It was just really good and funny. Maybe I’m misunderstanding what he means by safe.

1 2

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THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Makes RAGNAROK Seems Like A "Run-Of-The-Mill, Really Safe Film"

During a somewhat unique Thor: Ragnarok live commentary, director Taika Waititi revealed that his planned sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder, will be an even crazier experience than his last MCU effort...

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