Tag: Thor (1-10 of 11)

Apr 23 2013 01:06 PM ET

'Thor: The Dark World' trailer: A deep dive

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Image Credit: Marvel Studios

Thor was always the wild card in Marvel’s big multi-spinoff gamble. A character drawn out of myth who has spent half his comic-book history fighting monsters with unpronounceable Nordic names, Thor doesn’t have much in common with other superheroes. Casting then-unknown Chris Hemsworth in the lead only added to the uncertainty. But then Thor hit theaters in 2011 and wound up grossing $450 million globally. The character got another boost when his personal nemesis, Loki, became the Big Bad in Avengers. (Meanwhile, Hemsworth kept busy with Snow White and the Huntsman, a lucrative side-franchise where he basically plays Muddy Thor.) Today, the first trailer for November’s sequel Thor: The Dark World appeared online, featuring an expanded look at the Asgardian’s fantasy realm. You can watch it here — and now, let’s dive in, shall we? READ FULL STORY »

Feb 8 2013 12:01 AM ET

How much does Thor's hammer actually weigh? Scientist answers pressing question

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Thor-Hammer

Image Credit: Zade Rosenthal

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson set out to answer a truly perplexing scientific question Thursday on his Twitter feed: How much does Thor’s hammer weigh?

If Thor’s hammer is indeed made of a star, like the Marvel comic book says, it would weigh as much as 300 billion elephants. Assuming the average weight of an elephant, this equates to approximately 4.5 quadrillion pounds, according to a Slate report (we’ll trust their math).

Tyson even posted a photo of himself holding the hammer, to provide some proof of the accuracy of his report. He is one of pop culture’s favorite scientists, having hosted NOVA ScienceNow on PBS for five seasons and appearing frequently on The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He has hosted three of Reddit’s top 10 Ask Me Anything Q&A’s. He’s also no stranger to comic books — Tyson was featured in an issue of Action Comics in 2012, where he helped determine the location of Superman’s home planet, Krypton.

This offbeat way of imagining just how heavy the legendary hammer Mjölnir is gives me a renewed sense of pride for my personal favorite Avenger. It explains why only Iron Man’s exoskeleton and The Hulk can put up a fight against the king from Asgard. Alien or no, the guy is super, super strong. Really, how many elephants can you lift?

Read more:
‘The Avengers’: How ILM assembled the visual effects
‘Avengers’ cast, including Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson, to present at Oscars
S.H.I.E.L.D.’ pilot starts filming — PHOTOS

Aug 13 2012 12:05 PM ET

Superhero Showdown, Round 2: Superman vs. Thor! Spider-Man vs. Hulk! And more!

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Today, we begin Round 2 of our Superhero Showdown bracket game, moving one step closer to deciding which costumed crimefighter is the greatest superhero ever. The Round of 16 kicks off today with four agonizing big-ticket match-ups. Superman and Thor enter the arena, representing the dead planet Krypton and the heavenly realm of Asgard. Fresh from an upset victory over Ghost Rider, Hellboy will battle Captain Marvel for supernatural supremacy. Green Lantern and Invisible Woman will hurl energy at each other, some of it green, some of it invisible. And in the final bout, Marvel icons Spider-Man and the Hulk will decide once and for all whether it’s better to get your power from a radioactive spider or a gamma bomb.

Click on the image above for a printable bracket. Check out our pocket biographies of each superhero, and scroll to the bottom of each page to register your vote. Voting will conclude in exactly 48 hours, at 12:30 PM EST on August 15. Be sure to check back tomorrow for the other half of Round 2: Batman vs. The Punisher, Wolverine vs. Jean Grey, Wonder Woman vs. Captain America, and Iron Man vs. Deadpool. READ FULL STORY »

Aug 2 2012 12:41 PM ET

Doctor Who is playing the villain in 'Thor 2,' and that villain is...

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Image Credit: BBC

Christopher Eccleston already has infinite geek cred thanks to his shortlived-but-memorable role as The Doctor on the 2005 comeback season of Doctor Who. Since then, he’s popped up on television (he played an invisible man back when Heroes was good) and in movies (as the baddie in the unfortunate G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.) But now he’s bought a ticket on the Marvel Express, toot-tooot! As originally reported by Deadline, Eccleston is officially joining next year’s Asgardian sequel Thor: The Dark World. And as Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige hinted back in May, Eccleston will be playing a new villain drawn from Thor‘s comic book mythology: Malekith the Accursed. READ FULL STORY »

May 29 2012 02:30 PM ET

Who is the villain in 'Thor 2'? Marvel Studios head says...

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valhalla-rising

We know that Mads Mikkelsen is in serious talks to play the villain in Thor 2. So the question becomes: Just which villain will he be playing? Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige has ruled out at least one serious possibility. (SPOILER ALERT for anyone who still hasn’t seen Avengers.) In a new interview, Brit film magazine Empire asks Feige about the possibility of a Thor 2 appearance by Thanos, the death-obsessed demigod who was pulling Loki’s strings in The Avengers. After indicating that Thanos will be saved for the future (Avengers 2, perhaps), he promised: “There will be a major new villain [in Thor 2]. A major, major new antagonist…”

In the comic books, Thor has typically faced three species of villains: evil Asgardians, earthlings infected by Loki’s magic, or near-omnipotent superbeings. Feige hinted at the nature of that antagonist by talking a bit about the overall feel of the sequel: “We’re going to see the other side of Asgard. It’s not all polished and golden in this film.” Feige’s hint about the movie’s setting implies that the baddie in Thor 2 will be from the “other side of Asgard.” When reached by EW, Marvel Studios declined further comment on the nature of Thor 2‘s villain or setting. But speaking as a Thor scholar, I think there’s only one character that Mads Mikkelsen could possibly be playing…(Theory Alert!) READ FULL STORY »

May 4 2012 01:20 PM ET

Check out the cover of 'Avengers' No. 1 with the cast of the movie

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avengers-1

Marvel first debuted their all-star superteam in Avengers No. 1 almost 50 years ago. Today, the team hits the big screen in a geektastic bonanza that’s on track to become one of the biggest blockbusters ever. Of course, the superheroes in the movie look quite a bit different from the original characters. Back in 1963, Iron Man was still wearing a bright robo-suit that made him look like Mr. Clean combined with a Yellow Submarine. Hulk wasn’t as hulking — he was wrestler size, not truck size. Thor had yet to discover facial hair. Captain America was nowhere in sight. And the team was filled out by a pair of diminutive superheroes — supersmart Ant-Man and supersassy Wasp — who have yet to appear on screen. READ FULL STORY »

May 3 2012 11:13 AM ET

Your Avengers marathon survival guide: When to pee, get a snack, and check in with Mom and Dad

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Braving AMC Theatres’ epic Avengers movie marathon today? We applaud your stamina — and your chutzpah. (Not just anyone has the stones to fake the flu so they can watch grown men run around in silly costumes for nearly 14 hours.) Contrary to some joyless jerk’s belief, watching six movies in a row isn’t easy; while the spirit is willing, the flesh requires multiple snack and bathroom breaks. Luckily, EW is here to help.

We’ve carefully examined all five Avengers prequels — Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America — to determine when it’s safe to duck out of the theater without having to worry about missing anything important. (Read: Fight scenes and shots of Scarlett Johansson.) Load up this page before the marathon starts at 11:30 — by the time midnight rolls around, you’ll be prepared to sit still for a full two hours and 22 minutes as Joss Whedon’s new epic plays.

You’re welcome, America.

READ FULL STORY »

Apr 29 2012 10:00 AM ET

Avengers Files: Getting a bead on Hawkeye

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Image Credit: Marvel Entertainment

Unsure who Black Widow is? Having trouble deciphering the Hulk’s roar? Can’t tell the difference between Iron Man and the Iron Giant? In anticipation of the release of The Avengers on May 4, EW’s team of super geeks is here to help guide you through the mythos with our seven-part series of superhero primers, the recently declassified “Avengers Files.” It doesn’t matter if you’re a comic book connoisseur or a Nick Fury newbie — follow along this week as we deconstruct Earth’s mightiest heroes and pose the question: Which Avenger is the mightiest?

Name: Hawkeye/Clint Barton

First comic appearance: Tales of Suspense #57 (September, 1964), written by Stan Lee, penciled and inked by Don Heck.

First appearance in The Avengers (comic): Issue 16 (May, 1965), written by Lee, penciled by Jack Kirby.

First movie appearance: To set the stage for Hawkeye’s bigger role in The Avengers and to cultivate greater continuity among its movies, Marvel squeezed the the bow-twanging lone wolf agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (that’s Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division in Marvel movie lingo) into last summer’s Thor (gross $449 million worldwide), where he came thisclose to giving Thor the shaft in his brief cameo. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 28 2012 09:00 AM ET

Avengers Files: Everything you need to know about Thor

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thor

Image Credit: Marvel Entertainment

Unsure who Black Widow is? Having trouble deciphering the Hulk’s roar? Can’t tell the difference between Hawkeye and Katniss? In anticipation of the release of The Avengers on May 4, EW’s team of super geeks is here to help guide you through the mythos with our seven-part series of superhero primers, the recently declassified “Avengers Files.” It doesn’t matter if you’re a comic book connoisseur or a Nick Fury newbie — follow along this week as we deconstruct Earth’s mightiest heroes and pose the question: Which Avenger is the mightiest?

Name: Thor, God of Thunder

First comic appearance: Journey into Mystery #83 (August 10, 1962), created by Stan Lee, written by Larry Lieber, and pencilled by Jack Kirby.

First movie appearance: Thor (2011); $181 million domestic, $449.3 million worldwide READ FULL STORY »

Apr 17 2012 04:37 PM ET

Brothers battle royale: Two Hemsworths enter; one Hemsworth leaves?

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Hemsworth

Image Credit: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Liam and Chris Hemsworth are on the verge of something improbable, if not unprecedented. Not only did both brothers hit the genetic lottery, but both are essential components of studio franchises that will dominate the box office this year. Liam, 22, laid the foundation for his character, Gale, in The Hunger Games, and has a role in the upcoming AARP action film, Expendables 2. Chris, 28, is, literally, a Norse god, playing Thor again in The Avengers, as well as the Huntsman in the upcoming Snow White and the Huntsman.

What makes the Hemsworths’ success so unusual is that it contradicts one of the quirky unwritten laws of Hollywood stardom, which seems to predicate that when brothers experience renown in the movie business, one of them absorbs the celebrity and enormous success while the other operates in the shadows. Jeff and Beau Bridges. Matt and Kevin Dillon. Alec and Every Other Baldwin. (In a way, it’s not unlike Sith lords.) READ FULL STORY »

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