Chris Hemsworth in Marvel’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’
Taika Waititi brought a lot of heart and humor to his first Marvel Cinematic Universe entry, ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, sending Chris Hemsworth’s title hero in a whole new direction – and giving him a new haircut, to boot. Oh, and he also destroyed Asgard, plucked out one of Thor’s eyes and killed off Anthony Hopkins’ Odin.
Since then, Thor Odinson has been through the wringer even more, thanks to ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’, and we don’t just mean in terms of letting himself go, physically.
It makes some sense, then, that the first teaser for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’, Waititi’s second stab at MCU mayhem, might find the God of Thunder on a journey of self-discovery, figuring out who he is in a universe where he doesn’t seem keen to stay a superhero. He’s getting back in shape to some degree, but the long locks are back.
He’s still hanging around with Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) and the Guardians of the Galaxy (cue much humor between the two), though from the looks of the teaser, he’s soon off on an even bigger adventure.
The much-anticipated teaser is light on story points (as is usual for a shorter trailer like this), but packed with moments, including a flying ship, a glimpse of what we can assume is Russell Crowe as Zeus (in Olympus, we figure) and Thor on board the ship, snogging a blue-haired woman.
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And there’s even a visit to New Asgard on Earth, where Queen Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) is dealing with her own challenges – specifically, a boring council meeting, even though she’s rocking a sharp suit.
But above them all, of course, is that final moment, one to rank alongside Cap catching Mjolnir in ‘Endgame’ – the introduction of the Mighty Thor, AKA Jane Foster, AKA Natalie Portman, who makes her big return to the world of Marvel, looking great in her own godly get-up.
Yet to be properly glimpsed? Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher, who as his name suggests, is going to an issue for our heroes. He’s seeking the extinction of the Gods, and he’s a mightily powerful type, so expect that to be a major part of the plot.
‘Love and Thunder’s first look ditches the Led Zeppelin for Guns ‘n’ Roses, while the tone remains the playful Waititi blend of funny and portentous – he’s proved that he can bring the stakes without losing the laughs and all our fingers are crossed that his new movie lives up to ‘Ragnarok’s blast of entertainment.
Written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson alongside Waititi and featuring the likes of Jaimie Alexander (back as Lady Sif), Sam Neill, Melissa McCarthy, and Matt Damon (McCarthy joins a returning Neill and Damon as actors playing Asgardian heroes), ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ will in theaters July 8th.
Marvel’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ opens in theaters on July 8th.
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The movie stars Karen Gillan (‘Guardians of the Galaxy’) as Sarah, a woman who is recently given a terminal diagnosis from her doctor. So her family won’t feel the pain of her death, she has herself cloned and begins to teach her new self how to be her.
Trouble begins when Sarah goes into remission and is no longer dying. Now, by law, because they cannot both be the same person permanently, Sarah has one year to train before she must fight her double to the death on national TV.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Karen Gillian about her work on ‘Dual.’ The talented actress discussed her new film, director Riley Stearns’ unique vision, how the Marvel movies prepared her to play two characters at once, working with Aaron Paul, if she would ever clone herself, and working with Taika Waititi on the upcoming ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’
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You can read our full interview with Karen Gillian about ‘Dual’ below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Gillan, Beulah Koale, and writer/director Riley Stearns.
Moviefone: To begin with, how did you get involved with this project and what was your first reaction when you read the screenplay?
Karen Gillan: I think somebody from the production company that was making it sent me the script and said, “You have to be in this. This is one of the best things I’ve read in ages.” So, I was definitely primed for it to be really good and then I read it and I was like, “I totally agree.”
It’s just really unique and it’s in Riley Stearns’ voice. Like it could not have been written by anybody else. Then I went and explored all of his other films and realized that I had to be involved in this. He’s a filmmaker that I really respect who has his own sense of identity and I want to be a part of that.
MF: What was it like working with writer/director Riley Stearns and watching him execute his unique vision for this project?
KG: It was really cool to just watch someone know exactly what they want. That’s a trait that you really need in a good director, somebody who can really take the reins and be like, “This is how it’s going to be.” Then everybody else can kind of get in line with that overall vision. He has that in bucket loads.
He is just somebody who knows how he wants everything, how he wants the hair, how he wants the makeup, how he wants the shot, the acting, everything. That was just really nice to be guided like that and also take on the challenge of fitting into a certain established style that he already has as a filmmaker.
Director Riley Stearns on the set of ‘Dual’ from RLJE Films.
MF: Can you talk about your approach to playing these two separate characters and what was it like acting opposite yourself?
KG: It’s really weird acting opposite yourself and I’ve done it now four times, which sounds ridiculous, but I’m always in sci-fi or time travel things, so I’ve met myself a few times along the way. So, I kind of already was in the zone before this film, which is funny, but it’s tricky because you’ve got to obviously film both sides of the scene.
I had an amazing actress reading me my other lines so I could react off of someone. I’m watching it, thinking, “Okay. I’m going to steal what you did. I’m going to steal that for when I do my coverage and I’m probably going to do it different to the way you did that line.” So, I’m trying to imagine how I would do it in the future and then react off of that. So, it’s a lot of multitasking going on. I was like, “Wow. actually, I know how to do this already. Thank you, Avengers.”
MF: If you were dying, and it was possible to be cloned, would you make the same choice that Sarah did?
KG: We were sort of asking each other that question along the way. I think I was saying yes initially and then it dawned on me how creepy that is. Someone told me that people are having clones made of their pets. I can’t imagine cloning my dog. Apparently the personalities are different. So, I don’t know what I would do. I’m going to probably say I wouldn’t.
It’s really interesting how somebody can have the same genetic makeup as you and yet turn out differently for some reason that we can’t quite grasp. That was really interesting for me to play as an actress. It’s two people who are sort of the same. Like they have the same toolkits, but they’re using them differently.
My character starts off very kind of like low on confidence and self-worth, but the clone comes out extremely confident because she hasn’t been beaten down by life yet. So, it’s the same toolkit, but two different reactions to life.
Sarah obviously starts off very low in self-worth. Then through having to dual her clone in a dual to the death, she starts to work on herself and actually she starts to gain confidence, appreciate her life and she wants to fight for it more and more. The clone actually goes the opposite way and she starts to become more beaten down. So, they switch places at a certain point, which is really fun to play with.
(L to R) Karen Gillan and Aaron Paul in director Riley Stearns’ ‘Dual’ from RLJE Films.
MF: The actual dual in the movie takes place during a televised event, was that a commentary on reality TV?
KG: I mean, I feel like as humans we’ve been doing that for a really long time. Look at the gladiator times. It’s like we have a morbid fascination with watching people tear each other apart. I don’t know where that comes from. Now we’re just seeing it on every reality television show. It’s like if there’s not an argument, it’s not a good episode.
MF: What was your experience like working with Aaron Paul?
KG: Working with Aaron was incredible. He is such an amazing actor and one of the most generous people. Because he’s such a generous person, it makes him a really generous actor. He’s working to make you a better actor and I always love it when I have that type of relationship with other actors where we’re working for each other rather than for ourselves. He is exactly like that. He is so funny in the movie. He’s a wonderful person.
MF: Generally, what are you looking for from a scene partner?
KG: I think in a dream world we’re working for each other. So, if I can work really hard when the coverage is on the other person, if I can work really hard to provoke reactions in that person and help them to where they need to be and then I receive that from them, I feel like it just results in better acting because it’s reacting rather than acting. It makes each other’s job easier, yet you are working harder when you’re not off camera. But it’s like really a nice way to work and a generous way to work.
(L to R) Aaron Paul and Karen Gillan in director Riley Stearns’ ‘Dual’ from RLJE Films.
MF: Finally, I’m sure you can’t talk much about the current Marvel projects that you are working on, but what was it like collaborating with director Taika Waititi on ‘Thor: Love and Thunder?’
KG: It’s exactly like you’d imagine. He’s a whirlwind of brilliant, chaotic, creativity. It’s like a ride or something. You go in and he’s just kind of running around and he’s playing one of the characters in it and then he’s like, “Do this. Say this.” You kind of just need to cast your fate to the wind and go with it and he’s going to shout lines at you. You don’t know what they’re going to be, but there’s something so exhilarating about that. So, I had a really, really good time working with him because you just have to jump in at the deep end almost.
Taika Waititi, writer, director, and star of Jojo Rabbit
Although Ms. Moviefone, Grae Drake usually makes it look easy, interviewing the cast of a movie can be tough. Sometimes the movie is so unique that you can only really discuss how hard it is to talk about the movie without ruining the experience for those that haven’t yet seen it.
The good news is Grae still managed to have some fun with the cast. Writer/director Taika Waititi mercilessly judged Grae’s notes. Scarlett Johansson, Roman Griffin Davis and Thomasin McKenzie shared their own troubles describing the film, and Sam Rockwell & Stephen Merchant admit that the interview may not viewers much to go on. (But trust us, the movie is absolutely worth seeing).
Just when you think Taika Waititi has done it all, the eccentric “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Jojo Rabbit” filmmaker surprises us yet again: He’s reportedly in talks to play a role in James Gunn‘s “The Suicide Squad.”
That’s the scoop from Deadline, which says that Waititi may be joining the already-stacked cast of the upcoming DC supervillain team-up flick. As with most comic book movie casting news, the trade reports that there’s “No word on what part, or how big” just yet.
Filmmakers are going to have to make a decision soon, since Deadline says that there’s reportedly going to be a table read for “The Suicide Squad” on September 11, and production is set to begin on September 23. Since Waititi is already prepping work on the upcoming “Thor: Love and Thunder,” we imagine he’s pretty busy, and thus probably only negotiating for a small roll in the flick.
Since both Gunn and Waititi got their start at DC rival Marvel, we’re not-so-secretly hoping that Waititi’s casting will have some sort of winking nod to their connection to the MCU. But multi-talented Waititi — who’s also an actor, writer, and producer in addition to director — can truly do anything, so whatever role he’s playing, we’ll be on board.
“The Suicide Squad” — a sequel-reboot of sorts — is bringing back 2016 “Suicide Squad” stars Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang), and Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flag). New additions to the cast include Idris Elba, David Dastmalchian (Polka-Dot Man), Daniela Melchior (Ratcatcher), Flula Borg, Steve Agee (King Shark), and Nathan Fillion.
Now, the secret has been revealed: Variety reports Waititi is attached direct an untitled drama based on the 2015 documentary “Next Goal Wins,” which chronicles the true story of Dutch coach Thomas Rongen who attempts the nearly impossible task of turning the American Samoa soccer team from perennial losers into winners.
With Waititi on board, Fox Searchlight reportedly worked aggressively to land the rights. The project has already received a greenlight to begin filming this fall.
MCU films aren’t the only ones keeping Taika Waititi busy.
The “Thor: Ragnarok” director has a new and secret project in the works. He has signed on to write and helm a new Fox Searchlight film, according to Variety‘s sources. The movie is reportedly scheduled to shoot this fall, but plot details remain under wraps.
Waititi was apparently a big draw for Fox Searchlight. Once he boarded the project, the studio “worked aggressively” to get the film rights, Variety reports. Fox Searchlight is also the distributor of the writer-director’s latest film, “Jojo Rabbit,” which is set to open in October, after it premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Waiti will work with producer Garret Basch on his secret Fox Searchlight project. Imaginarium’s Jonathan Cavendish and Andy Serkis will produce as well.
This year’s San Diego Comic Con has been a mostly sleepy affair, with most of the major movie studios forgoing splashy presentations, leaving buzzy television series to pick up the slack. (In all fairness, that “Watchmen” trailer rules.) So there was a certain amount of built-in hype for Marvel Studios’ return to Hall H (they skipped last year); not only has the 2019 cinematic landscape been largely defined by the studio (thanks to hits like “Captain Marvel” and “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” and the release of the juggernaut “Avengers: Endgame,” which just surpassed “Avatar” as the highest grossing movie ever) but much of their upcoming slate has been a mystery, a muddled brew of conjecture, half-truths and wishful thinking. So this afternoon, in San Diego, the air was cleared. In a breathless 90-minute presentation, “phase four” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, encompassing theatrical releases and new productions for Disney’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming platform Disney+, were meticulously detailed. And far from a saggy slate, this crop of titles is exciting and experiment. After so much change and so much success, Marvel Studios seems ready to mix it up. And we couldn’t be more excited.
In an effort to streamline our reporting, we’ll go in the order they went in Hall H. Just strap in. It’s a wild ride.
Marvel Studios
After quickly showing a MCU greatest hits reel and announcing “Avengers: Endgame’s” box office milestone, Kevin Feige introduced the cast and crew of “Eternals,” set for release on November 6, 2020. Director Chloé Zhao appeared onstage with a ridiculously stacked cast, including Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff (the “first deaf hero” in the MCU), Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee and, the queen herself, Angelina Jolie.
As far as kicking things off with a bang, this was pretty great.
Nanjiani said that he’d been to Comic Con eight times before but that this was the first time he’d gotten into Hall H. He then made a really cool analogy for the MCU. “It used to be like ‘Casablanca’ had everything – action, drama, thriller and movies had to be little genres. Is this a comedy? Is it a thriller? Marvel is a throwback to those old school movies because they have everything,” he said. “I’m just excited to be able to do all that.” Jolie, for her part, didn’t take the role lightly. “What it means to be a part of the MCU to be a part of this family, we know what the task is and we are all going to work very, very hard,” Jolie said, sounding both humble and very determined.
Marvel Studios
After “Eternals,” we were then treated to a look at “The Falcon and the Winter Solider,” a new series scheduled to hit the Disney+ streaming service in August 2020. Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie appeared on stage and Feige described the setting of the show as “post-‘Endgame,’” but besides that, details weren’t exactly revealed … oh, except that Daniel Bruhl, who played the villainous Baron Zemo in “Captain America: Civil War,” will be back (and presumably, up to no good).
Marvel Studios
Next was a look at the film for February 12, 2021: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Not only is that title new (and quite a mouthful!), but Feige detailed how the Ten Rings, a famous terrorist group in Marvel history, has been planted as Easter eggs in a ton of the movies (serious, “Ant-Man!?!”) but now it will really get to take center stage. Tony Leung, one of our greatest living actors, will play the real version of The Mandarin (you’ll remember Ben Kingsley infamously played a phony version of the character in “Iron Man 3”), alongside Awkwafina (in an undisclosed role) and newcomer Simu Liu as the titular hero. Liu said he was “cast on Tuesday,” and said the casting was “a fulfillment of my dream.” Director Destin Daniel Cretton said that he’s excited to create an MCU film that “reflects all the beautiful colors I see in this room. To be a small part in that is really special to me.”
Marvel Studios
After that we got a brief (and I mean brief) look at “WandaVision,” the upcoming Disney+ series that concerns Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany’s characters from the MCU along with a very cool surprise, the addition of Monica Rambeau, who we last saw as a child in “Captain Marvel,” now played by the wonderful Teyonah Parris. Everyone on stage described the show as “strange,” with Feige saying it’s “unlike anything we’ve done before,” and Bettany calling it “surprising and weird.” It looks, in part, to be based on Tom King’s recent, highly celebrated comic book run and if the logo is any indication will have a retro 1950’s aesthetic. Look for it in spring 2021.
Marvel Studios
Another Disney+ title we got a taste of is “Loki.” Feige said that after “Endgame,” “The question I got asked more than any other was: where did Loki go?” Well, as it turns out, a lot of places, thanks to his use of the space stone. Tom Hiddleston, always the fan favorite, says that this will be a less evolved Loki than he currently sits in the MCU. Think first “Avengers” Loki. “Just about the last thing that happened to him was he got Hulk smash. There’s a lot of psychological evolution that has yet to happen,” Hiddleston said. “Kevin has shown me what his plans are but it is one of the most exciting, creative opportunities I’ve ever come across. This is new territory, a new world, new challenges. I cannot wait to get started.” He’ll beam into your homes spring 2021.
Marvel Studios
Next, the film hitting theaters on May 7, 2021 was revealed: the sequel to “Doctor Strange,” with the tantalizingly rococo title “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Feige started by saying that just because Jake Gyllenhaal was lying to our beloved Peter Parker, doesn’t mean that a multiverse doesn’t exist. But when returning director Scott Derrickson walked out on stage, he let loose an even bigger bombshell: “We’re going to make the first scary MCU film.” Whoa. (Feige quickly said: “It’s a PG-13 movie and you’re going to like it.” So no R … yet.)
Benedict Cumberbatch came out on stage and said that “This twist of horror will really have people gripped. He’ll be in a position of not knowing what’s coming at him. We’re going back to trying to destroy him a bit.” Olsen was then brought back out on stage; she’ll be fighting the forces of darkness alongside Strange in this outing and she remarked that the storylines of her show and the “Doctor Strange” sequel will be linked.
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Next up: summer 2021 on Disney+, the first “animated series from Marvel Studios,” “What If.” It’ll feature Jeffrey Wright from “Westworld” as the voice of The Watcher and “a huge majority f the actors in our movies will reprise their roles,” taking on alternative takes on characters and scenarios you already love.
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Jeremy Renner then emerged, making his way through the crowd, to help announce the “Hawkeye” “limited series” (none of the other shows were described as such) coming to Disney+ in the fall of 2021. What’s more, as Feige said with great pride, the series will be responsible for “bringing Kate Bishop into the MCU and we’ll explore more of his time as Ronin in this series.” Renner seems pumped about the series (which, based on the logline and the logo seems to be derived from Matt Faction’s amazing series): “What I think Hawkeye is a superhero without superpowers. And I get to train somebody else to be a superhero without superpowers. It’s an amazing sentiment. I think that’s fantastic.”
Marvel Studios
And then we got to talk about the third film of 2021, coming November 5, 2021: “Thor: Love and Thunder.” Writer/director Taika Waititi has returned to the franchise and he was joined on stage alongside Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. Waititi said he was inspired by the Jason Aaron comic book “The Mighty Thor.” “It introduces, for the the first time, female Thor.” He said there was only one person who could carry the hammer (and carry the hammer, out onto the stage, she did) — Natalie Portman, making her return to the MCU after a somewhat contentious shoot on “Thor: The Dark World.” People were shook. This is a huge surprise. Portman said that inheriting the role of Thor, “Feels pretty good.” She then said: “I’ve always had some hammer envy.”
Marvel Studios
At the tail end of the panel, we were treated to May, 2020’s film, “Black Widow.” We saw some footage, which looks very “Mission: Impossible”-y, and Scarlett Johansson was joined onstage by her amazing cast (including an incredibly charming David Harbour from “Stranger Things”). We’ll do a deep dive into the footage and everything a bit later, but at the end of the panel, the cast walked on stage with their Black Widow hats for a big group photo. They were then joined by everybody else who had been a part of the presentation (all wearing their Black Widow hats, which I noticed were considerably higher quality than the ones that were handed out) and then, at the very very end of the presentation, after Feige had bemoaned the fact that he didn’t get to talk about “Black Panther 2” (!), or “Captain Marvel 2” (!!) or “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3” (!!!) or talk about “Fantastic Four” or the plans for the mutants (!!!!).
Marvel Studios
Then he brought out two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali. Feige said that Ali had another hat he’d like to wear. And then he put it on and it said “Blade.” It’s unclear whether or not it’s a TV series or a movie, but goddamn are we pumped.
“Rick and Morty” is finally coming back and it’s bringing “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi with it.
A clip of the episode from the long-awaited 4th Season was shown today at San Diego Comic-Con.
Waititi voices an alien intern who may or may not have diabolical designs. And who developed an app that Morty and Jerry desperately need to get off the Internet. (Which has something to do with servers?)
“I think it’s safe to say without fear of being wrong that the gap between seasons three and four will be the longest, and last time that it’s ever so long that it’s ridiculous,” Harmon told EW. “I don’t know how fast we can do it, but I know it will never be this long again.”
So far, that Kanye West cameo still isn’t happening, however. “We’re trying to schedule something,” Roiland said. “It’s not going to be for this batch coming up. But we love the idea of doing something with him.”
Season 4, which will be 10 episodes long, will debut sometime this fall.
According to Variety, Warner Bros. studio hopes that “Akira” can get back on track once the director is done with the Marvel movie. Waititi was reportedly meeting with young Japanese actors for “Akira’s” two lead roles.
This is yet another setback for the project, which has been through development hell since Warner Bros. first acquired the rights in 2002. Various directors have been rumored to be attached, including Justin Lin and Jordan Peele.
Katsuhiro Otomo’s 1980s manga series and the animated 1988 cult film are set in a dystopian near-future in Neo-Tokyo, which was built after the old Tokyo was destroyed by a psychic attack. A pair of teen bikers, Tetsuo and Kaneda, become targets of the government when Tetsuo suddenly develops psychic powers. Soon, the bikers are on the run not just from the government, but from Akira, the powerful psychic behind the first psychic explosion that destroyed Tokyo.
As the MCU moves into its next phase, the “Thor” franchise will continue: “Thor 4” is officially in the works, with “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi once again at the helm.
The scoop comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which says that Waititi has just signed on to both write and direct the latest flick following the God of Thunder. As is typical with Marvel projects, no details about the potential plot were revealed, though there are a number of different directions in which Waititi and co. can take the franchise moving forward, considering where Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) ended up at the conclusion of “Avengers: Endgame.”
When we last saw our heroes, Thor was jetting off to join the Guardians of the Galaxy gang (perhaps setting up a cameo in “Guardians vol. 3”), while Valkyrie had taken over as the ruler of the Asgardians. Hemsworth is expected to return for “Thor 4,” according to THR, though there’s no word yet on Thompson’s involvement.
What is more clear, however, is how “Thor 4” will affect Waititi’s upcoming flick “Akira,” the live-action remake of the anime classic. That Warner Bros. project, which had been languishing in development for quite some time, was delayed by scripting changes that pushed back its production start date, which in turn put it in conflict with “Thor 4.” Now that Waititi has committed to the latter film, Warner Bros. is putting “Akira” on indefinite hold; while it’s not a done deal yet, THR says that the studio may simply wait for the director to wrap “Thor 4,” and save the project for him to tackle after he finishes the Marvel movie.
Stay tuned to see when “Thor 4” is expected to hit theaters.
