Captain America: Civil War is passing the billion dollar mark a the worldwide box office today just as Marvel Studios ramps up to begin production on Spider-Man: Homecoming while also finishing its last few weeks on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 principal photography. All three of these projects shot (or will shoot) at the new Pinewood Atlanta Studios - where Ant-Man prior (the first film to use the facilities) was also made.
But that's not all that's in near development; Also on the way is Thor: Ragnarok - a project which introduces another outlandish pick for the director's chair in Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows) - and it's the first Marvel Studios movie that will shoot in Australia. Marvel has just confirmed the film's cast of characters joining Waititi and star Chris Hemsworth down under and... wait for it... Jeff Goldblum is in it playing The Grandmaster!
The official Thor: Ragnarok cast and character list is below. Stay tuned for more details!
Two-time Oscar®-winner Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine,” “Carol, “Cinderella”) joins Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok” as the mysterious and powerful new villain Hela, along with Jeff Goldblum (the upcoming “Independence Day: Resurgence,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “Jurassic Park”) who joins the cast as the eccentric Grandmaster, Tessa Thompson (“Creed,” “Selma”) who will bring the classic hero Valkyrie to life on the big screen, and Karl Urban (“Star Trek” trilogy, “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King”) who will add his might to the fray as Skurge.
Rounding out the cast for the film is three-time Oscar®-nominee Mark Ruffalo (“Spotlight,” “The Kids Are All Right,” “Foxcatcher”), reprising his role of Bruce Banner/the Hulk from “Marvel’s The Avengers” and Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”
Producer Kevin Feige, the planner and decision maker behind Marvel Studios and its movie franchise, said the following, emphasizing the 'big event' nature of the third Thor movie just like Captain America 3 was for the Earth-based characters of the MCU:
“The continuation of the epic Thor franchise will be powerful and unique, and with the additions of Cate, Jeff, Tessa, Karl, and Mark to the cast we have the makings of his most dangerous and heroic adventure yet. The sheer, raw talent each of these actors brings to the screen can’t be quantified. Having any one of them join the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be an honor, and having all of them is incredible."
But it's not just about the heavy-hitting newcomers played by recognizable stars headlining Ragnarok - the fan-favorite leads are back too sans Lady Sif and the Warriors Three who were noticeably absent in the official press but we have an update on that here (hint: we think they'll be back!).
Thor’s new cast members join returning stars Chris Hemsworth (“Rush,” “In the Heart of the Sea,” “Ghostbusters”) in the title role for the fifth time; Tom Hiddleston (“Crimson Peak,” “The Night Manager,” “Kong: Skull Island”) as Thor’s adversarial, adopted brother, Loki; Golden Globe® and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Idris Elba (“The Dark Tower,” “Luther,” “Beasts of No Nation”) as the Asgardian sentry, Heimdall; and Academy Award®-winner Sir Anthony Hopkins (“Silence of the Lambs,” “Nixon,” “Hitchcock”) again portraying Odin, Ruler of Asgard.
“Thor: Ragnarok,” the third installment of Marvel’s popular Norse Super Hero, is directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Taika Waititi (“Two Cars, One Night,” “What We Do in the Shadows,” “Hunt for the Wilderpeople”). Kevin Feige will produce the film, joined by executive producers Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Thomas M. Hammel and Stan Lee
Developing...
More: 11 Things You Need To Know About Ragnarok
Captain America: Civil War is in theaters now. Doctor Strange opens November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man: Homecoming – July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; Black Panther – February 16, 2018; Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel– March 8, 2019; Avengers: Infinity War Part 2– May 3, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on July 12, 2019, and on May 1, July 10, and November 6 in 2020.
Source: Marvel