Kat Dennings Joins Thor, But Who Will She Play?
Just when you thought you had learned the complete cast of the big screen adaptation of Marvel's Thor, we learn one last surprise. Thor star Natalie Portman accidentally revealed to MTV that her "good friend" "amazing actress" Kat Dennings has been cast in Kenneth Branagh adaptation. Portman didn't reveal what character Dennings would play in the film. Portman is playing Jane Foster, nurse to Thor's human alter-ego Donald Blake, and Jaimie Alexander is the Asgardian warrior Sif, so what role could Dennings play? We have a couple ideas after the jump.
/Film reader Disappearer suggested that she might be playing The Enchantress Amora, who according to Marvel.com, "became one of the more powerful magic-wielders in Asgard, with her magical arsenal focused on (but not limited to) charming and mind-controlling people."
Amora has devoted her immortal life to the pursuit of power and pleasure, using sorcery and sexuality as her tools. Amora's longest-serving pawn was Skurge the Executioner. Skurge was madly in love with Amora, who granted him just enough affection to ensure his loyalty. The two pursued many schemes together, often coming into conflict with the thunder god Thor and his mortal comrades, the Avengers. Pardoned in recent years after helping defendAsgard against Surtur, Amora has had an on-and-off romantic link with her longtime foe Thor, to whom she was drawn even more strongly after he inherited the throne of Asgard.
Dennings looks a lot like the image of The Enchantress above.
Another /Film reader, Tardispilot, suggested that she might be playing Hela, the Asgardian goddess of death, ruler of Hel and Niffleheim and frequent for of Thor, based loosely on the Norse myths of the goddess Hel.
Hela was born ages ago to the being who would one day be called Odin and a goddess whose name and image have been lost in antiquity. On the day of her maturity, Odin appointed her goddess and ruler of the northernmost realms of the dead. Her special dominion was over the souls of all who did not die in battle, while Odin himself built the palace Valhalla to house the souls of all of those who died as heroes. In recent years, when Odin's attention had strayed from the maintenance of Valhalla, Hela tried to annex that realm to her own, hoping to consolidate her power over all Asgard's dead. Eventually Odin grew aware of her ambitions and opposed them. In the course of battle, Odin's band of Valkyries, the custodians of Valhalla, lost their physical forms, no longer able to travel from Valhalla except in their wraith-like astral forms. Hela gave up her contest for Valhalla when Odin vowed to keep better watch over it in future, and she returned to her realms.
Here is an image of Hela:
It is also possible that Dennings might just have a small part, something not included in the comic books. Who knows, she might play the sister of Portman's character, or something like that.
Kenneth Branagh is directing Thor from a script by Mark Protosevich. (IMDB credits Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz with script work). Here's the synopsis from Marvel's press release:
Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: Thor. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
As for the rest of the cast: Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) is Thor, Anthony Hopkins is his father Odin and Natalie Portman is Jane Foster, who in the comics is nurse to Thor's human alter-ego Donald Blake. Tom Hiddleston is the villanous Loki, Jaimie Alexander is the Asgardian warrior Sif, and Colm Feore is a villain whose identity is being kept secret. Stellan Skarsgard is in the cast, too.