Marvel Studios is really stepping up its casting game. This time its with Thor: Ragnarok. Marvel announced that Karl Urban and Jeff Goldblum have joined the cast of the film, and confirmed the casting Cate Blanchett and Tessa Thompson.
Jeff Goldblum will be playing the Grandmaster. In the comics, Grandmaster is an Elder of the Universe who is obsessed with games, often kidnapping superheroes to act as pawns in his contests. He is also the brother of the Collector, the character portrayed by Benicio Del Toro in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Goldblum hinted back in April that he was going to appear in a superhero movie, and, what do you know, he was right. This might be the most inspired choice for a role in the history of Marvel. Grandmaster is essentially a cosmic being with a gambling problem, a quirky role that plays up to Goldblum’s strengths.
Karl Urban will be playing Skurge the Executioner. Skurge is a character who acted as an enforcer for Loki and the Enchantress and fought Thor numerous times over the year. He one of my favorite characters, because while he has done evil things, he had his own sense of honor and nobility. The fact that he is often partnered with the Enchantress in the comics leads me to suspect that there might be another casting announcement in the future.
Urban has a lot of geek cred already, having played McCoy in the Star Trek reboot, Judge Dredd in the vastly under rated Dredd, and the TV Show Almost Human.
He will be reuniting with his Lord of the Rings co-star Cate Blanchett, who will be in Thor: Ragnarok playing Hela, Queen of Hel. Hel is the place where bad Asgardians go when they die.
Blanchett was rumored to be playing Valkyrie, put that part will be going to Tessa Thompson.
The press release also confirms that Mark Ruffalo will be making and appearance as the Hulk, and that Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba and Anthony Hopkins will be returning.
One notable name missing is Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. Perhaps her time as Thor’s paramour is over.
Thor: Ragnarok will hit theaters on November 3, 2017.
