Another good weekend at the box office for Marvel Studios’ The Avengers as the superhero mashup has crossed the $500 million in domestic ticket sales mark. But Marvel Studios honcho Kevin Feige would like you to know that this is not the end of their plans for their superhero films, but only the beginning. In a new interview with Empire magazine (via Collider), Feige pointed out –
The Avengers was not the finale for us. It was a giant, giant marker, but it was never the finale. We are already well into the plan for the next phase of our little cinematic universe.
And those plans include the currently in pre-production Thor 2. Although the film is set to start shooting this fall, there is lots of speculation as to who the Asgardian god of thunder may be squaring off against this time around. Variety has the answer, stating that Casino Royale bad guy Mads Mikkelsen is in talks to join the film in an unspecified, but villainous, role. Of course, this has led to fan speculation that Mikkelsen could be playing Thanos, the death-obsessed bad guy behind Loki’s attempted invasion of Earth in The Avengers. But in that aforementioned Empire interview, Feige was quick to point out that while Thanos would be seen in the future, it would not be in Thor 2. Instead, the sequel will feature “a major new villain. A major, major new antagonist…”
OK, Thor scholars, who do you think he could be referring to? Perhaps the Asgardian known as The Executioner? He seems like a good fit for what the studio is looking to do next. As to what else the Thor sequel might encompass, Feige stated that the film will explore more ofThor’s otherworldly home.
We’re going to see the other side of Asgard. It’s not all polished and golden in this film. And the events of Avengers will have affected Thor for sure. His relationship with Loki will continue to evolve, and the biggest part is Natalie [Portman] and Thor returning with Jane Foster.
Thor 2 is scheduled to fly into theaters on November 15, 2013.
