We recently reported that Kenneth Branagh is in talks to direct Marvel’s planned big-screen adaptation of Thor. While some people have proclaimed “Nooooo!!! to this news, the general opinion around here is that Branagh is a great fit to helm the tale of the God of Thunder.
Apparently, J. Michael Straczynski thinks so too. JMS, who is the writer for Marvel’s current Thor comic book run, said he couldn’t “imagine anyone better suited” to direct the film than Branagh.
“‘Thor,’ at his best, has always had a classical bent to the character in terms of his history, the way he speaks, and the often Shakespearean intrigues and dramas that surround him. That kind of dialogue and character needs the hand of someone who comes from a theatrical/classically trained background in order for it not to sound forced or artificial. Branagh is absolutely the perfect choice.”
Thor is scheduled to hit theaters on July 16, 2010.
Regarding JMS, Clint Eastwood’s Changeling, for which JMS penned the screenplay, will be the centerpiece of the 46th New York Film Festival in late October and will get a theatrical release on October 24, 2008.
[Source: MTV]
Initially when I heard that Kenneth Branagh was tapped to direct “Thor” I wasn’t surprised and actually thought it could work. What JMS says about Thor and being very similar to Shakespearean works is very true but at the same time, we stand now at a fulcrum that can either give us the Ang Lee Hulk or possibly something akin to Iron Man. Although I still have a glimmer of hope that Branagh may create something altogether different and awesome. Whereas The Dark Knight is a mixture of action, drama, suspense, and film noir, mayhaps Thor will be epic and mythic in size and scope.
My one issue with Branagh is that he tends to direct movies overdramatically. Both in Dead Like Me and Frankenstein, where characters are supposed to exist and behave in a realistic setting, many of the actors — actors who I have SEEN turn in good naturalistic performances — will go too big. Their performances will be too extreme in their expression.
He directs them for theater, which may go over well with Shakespeare movies, but for everything else it can come off hokey and unrealistic.
Thor is gonna be big and fantastical, sure, but if LOTR proved anything, it’s that even fantastical elements need to be grounded in the reality of the characters. I dunno if Branagh can do that. I’ve never seen him do it. Not when directing.