Keira Knightley Confirmed For JACK RYAN And Kevin Costner Wanted Too
Keira Knightley has now been confirmed by Deadline for the female lead in the Jack Ryan reboot which stars Chris Pine (Star Trek 1-2) and directed by Kenneth Branagh (Thor, Hamlet). Kenneth will also be playing the film’s villain with Kevin Costner also wanted for a key part. Kevin’s role would also include his own spinoff franchise Without Remorse.
Keira Knightley Frontrunner For ‘JACK RYAN’ Reboot
Deadline reports that Britsh actress Keira Knightley (Pirates 1-3, Atonement) is the Frontrunner for the female lead in the new Jack Ryan reboot starring Chris Pine. Evangeline Lily (Hobbit, Lost, Real Steel) and Felicity Jones (Like Crazy) are also in the mix.Knightley had previously tested for Captain America and Dark Knight Rises.
Kenneth Branagh To Play Villain In Jack Ryan Reboot
Kenneth Branagh is already playing a large role in the production of the untitled Jack Ryan reboot as it’s director but Deadline reports he’ll also be the film’s villain. There had been hope that the ex-Thor director would have an acting part in the Thor sequel but having two large jobs on the Jack Ryan film nixes those chances. Chris Pine is currently set to play Ryan in the film previously known as Moscow.
Kenneth Branagh In Talks To Direct The Jack Ryan Reboot
It looked like the Jack Ryan reboot had been in a bit of trouble as Jack Bender (Lost) had to drop out of the director’s chair. Variety reports the studio is looking to nab Kenneth Branagh to helm the action thriller. Branagh might not have been a director you’d expect for a project like this but after the success of last year’s Thor anything is possible. Production on the project was expected to start up as soon as Star Trek 2 wraps up allowing Chris Pine to start shooting. Kenneth’s involvement questions the fact he wasn’t asked to return to direct the Thor sequel if he’s able to make this film.
Who Should Direct Thor 2?
Now that we know that Patty Jenkins, Brian Kirk and Kenneth Branagh aren’t options to direct Thor 2, who could? Previously we’ve seen some names that seem like odd matches before but have turned out great for Marvel Studios like Jon Favreau and Branagh. I think with the production date looming the studio might want to consider a few names. They very well won’t workout because of scheduling issues but I feel these directors could bring something to the table.
RUPERT SANDERS: He’s new to the movie industry but is cutting his teeth with a rather large project currently Snow White And The Huntsman which stars Chris Hemsworth. Rupert already has a working relationship with Hemsworth and seems to be able to handle a project of this size along with it’s budget restrictions. Huntsman features a lot of fantasy aspects that could be interesting seen in a Thor sequel. The humor might be an issue for Sanders since Huntsman looks like it could be a lot more serious than Thor. However, the last film was able to balance between many different emotions and could go darker if need be. While Huntsman will get a June release date between now and then Sanders is likely going to be busy as can be with post-production on the film.
NICOLAS WINDING REFN: Nicolas is film geek gold winning over many with his conceptual eye-popping thriller Drive this year. He’s been itching to make a comic book film being on many people’s list to step in for future Batman films. Not to mention Refn’s own intentions on making a serious Wonder Woman film for Warner Bros. but has yet to be taken up on the offer. Refn has stated his favorite of his own films was Valhalla Rising which featured a one eyed mute Viking slave who was a prize fighter. If Marvel really wanted to go the auteur route Nicolas would be that route. He’s currently shooting another smaller film title Only God Forgives which could easily be edited on the fly. I could see him being able to handle the genre and it’s humor my only concern would be it’s pacing. The only issue could be his in development remake of Logan’s Run could end up being his next project if WB wants it to be.
DUNCAN JONES: He’s been linked as a contender for Man of Steel, The Wolverine and Iron Man 3, the latter more rumor if anything else. Jones is a solid science fiction director his films Moon and Source Code run the gauntlet of emotions which doesn’t often happen in the genre. Thor is equally set in fantasy as it is science fiction which could be explored greatly with Jones behind the camera. He currently doesn’t have a set film on his slate while the others on the list do. Duncan has yet to fully jump into franchise territory and is unlikely to do so without a serious reason to. One of his passion projects Mute has been lacking in financing which could change if he knocked out something like Thor 2. I liken Duncan to Matthew Vaughn early in his career, so I dying to see what he can do with a Marvel property.
Patty Jenkins Won’t Direct Thor 2
Deadline reports that Monster director Patty Jenkins won’t be directing Thor 2. The studio and Patty had a disagreement over creative issues which lead to her exit. However, they state Jenkins could end up directing another one of Marvel’s laundry list projects. Marvel will have to move quickly as production is expected to start in September of next year with a release date a little over a year after that date. Giving a director enough time to put together pre-production, set creation and new casting additions. Thor 2 is expected to be a rather large sequel with it’s Asgardian population rumored to be doubling in size. Not to mention the fact there has been talk the movie is likely to be set in other realms which is very costly for the studio.
Brian Kirk (Luther, Game of Thrones) had also been in talks with the studio but also left over creative and budget issues. This isn’t new for Marvel as the original Thor film went through a similar process to find it’s director. Names like Matthew Vaughn and Sam Raimi were once attached to direct before Kenneth Branagh was ultimately hired. Jenkins could better suit a majority of the other projects in development and I’m sure will be back at Marvel in the future.
If Rupert Sanders wasn’t busy with Snow White and The Huntsman I would have felt he was the director for the job. The film has a similar scale and tone which also stars Chris Hemsworth.
Hemsworth, Hiddleston, Dallas & Branagh Comment On Patty Jenkins
Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Joshua Dallas (Fandral), even producer and former director Kenneth Branagh weigh in on new director Patty Jenkins. It seems like an overwhelming wave of positivity coming from the cast and it sounds Marvel is excited by her take on the material. Thor 2 which is slated for a November 15th 2013 release.
Tom Hiddleston: “[She is] an absolutely amazing director” and that ‘Monster’ is “one of my favorite films. I’m so excited that Marvel has given the reigns to a director who has such of an incredible grasp of story, performance and complexity. I think her handling of the characters and the arc of the story in ‘Monster’ and what the story is about on the whole is really, really fascinating. I’m sure it’s going to take us on another adventure somewhere that’s entertaining and funny in some capacity, and the fact that Patty is at the helm is really, really exciting.”
Chris Hemsworth: “She has a great take on the story and a solid grasp on that kind of universe,” Hemsworth said in his meeting with Jenkins she seemed like a filmmaker worthy of picking up the franchise’s cinematic hammer “Branagh read every comic book he could get his hands on,” Hemsworth said. “She also looked like she had done her homework.”
Kenneth Branagh: “Monster was, I think, an absolutely sensational film. I think that she’s a great talent. As a possibility in the mix, I think that’s a tremendous idea.”
Joshua Dallas: “We are! We are planning a return to Asgard, next year. Thor 2 is happening. A great director called Patty Jenkins is directing the sequel. Ken [Branagh] is not directing, which is obviously a huge shame, because he came in and created that world and created the language and the look of the whole thing. But he’s kind of set it all up for us and I think he’s staying on as a producer. But yeah, there’s going to be some more adventures in the Nine Realms.”
“I haven’t yet, no. But apparently Marvel are in love with her and I’m sure she is going to be a really exciting and interesting choice. She’s done some great work before. Marvel always have a really good idea for those directors that are going to come in and they may seem out of left field, but they always have a plan and they’re always really smart. And that’s what’s so great about working for Marvel, because not only are they movie producers and they make these great movies, but they’re comic book guys and they love it and they love the characters and they love the stories.”
Director Patty Jenkins Confirmed For Thor 2, Release Date Moved
Deadline has the official press release from Marvel Studios announcing that Monster director Patty Jenkins has been hired to make Thor 2. The sequel had just been pushed back to November 15th 2013 so Disney could fit The Lone Ranger into their summer lineup. Hopefully this could mean a bigger spectacle with an extra four months to complete post-production special effects. While Kenneth Branagh won’t be directing he is still producing the film and likely contributing from the sidelines. Jenkins is the second female director to make a Marvel film and is an excellent choice in my opinion. It’s expected that the original cast will return along with talk of expanding the cast of Asgardians.
I’d like to see Patty cast Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman (Snabba Cash 1-2, Dragon Tattoo, Safe House, Darkest Hour) in a role. She previously worked with Joel when Jenkins directed the pilot episode of The Killing which earned her an Emmey nomination. Joel was one of the finalists for the role of Thor that included Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. Hiddleston ended up landing the meatier role of Loki and is one of the best aspects of current run of Marvel films. It could be interesting to see Kinnaman in the role of Balder or one of the villains such as such as Malekith. Marvel might to move quickly before he gets cast in Steven Soderbergh’s budding spy franchise The Man From UNCLE.
Another possibility is that Charlize Theron might re-team with Patty who helped earn her Best Actress Oscar for Monster. Theron is looking to make a powerful comeback after a batch sluggish films with roles in Jason Reitman’s Young Adult, Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and George Miller’s Max Mad Fury Road. Not to mention starring alongside Thor himself Chris Hemsworth in Snow White And The Huntsman. I think she’d be great for Amora The Enchantress , Brunnhilde The Valkyrie or the villain Hela.
The only problem is that Fury Road is expected to start production in March and there are rumors of a sequel being at the same time. That’s of course if she can work it into her busy production for Mad Max. However, with the new release date and a spring production start Marvel would have plenty of time to accommodate Theron’s other commitments.
HBO’s Brian Kirk In Talks To Direct Thor 2, Coming July 26th 2013
ShowBlitz reports that Marvel Studios is currently in talks with Game Of Thrones/Boardwalk Empire director Brian Kirk to take on Thor 2. The sequel is set to be released on July 26th 2013.
It’s not surprising Kirk is getting film offers since both Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire have blown up thanks to his work directing several of the first season’s episodes. While I believe Kenneth Branagh did an excellent job on the first film I didn’t outright love it. New blood seems like a good move along with hiring Shane Black for Iron Man 3 coming out the same year. It’s expected the second film will be entirely set in the cosmic world focusing on a larger cast of Asgardians and mystical creatures/foes. Which seems to sort of parallel Thrones slightly, so it could very well turn out for the better.
RUMOR: Thor 2 Coming 2013 & Possible Villains?
It wasn’t too long ago that Marvel Studios set Thor writer Don Payne to start working on a sequel’s story. Director Kenneth Branagh said that the only way there would be another film if is audiences showed up and they did. Now with the film racking up close to $352 million worldwide in box office numbers so far it seems like a no-brainer for Marvel to move forward with another Thor.
CinemaBlend is now offering some tidbits of information concerning Thor 2. First they give the impression the film could be coming sooner than expected with a possible 2013 date opening the same summer as Iron Man 3. It sounds about right as Marvel has yet to announce a second 2013 film. They mention that possible villains could include Amora (The Enchantress) and Skurge (The Executioner) allies of Loki. Amora plays both sides working with and against Thor while trying to win his affection with magic and trickery. Skurge on the other hand is a bruiser warrior originally born in
Jotunheim (Frost Giant Realm).
Blend is usually on the money but things change as it’s early in the development process. Previously they sited Fing Fang Foom, Ten Rings and Manderain as the villains in Iron Man 2 but that of course didn’t turn out to be true. That being said the two a very likely going to be in future Thor films as they are centric characters but I wouldn’t rule out non-Asgardian villains. Alice Eve has been linked previously to testing for different female roles and it’s possible she very well could end up playing Amora. My hope is that the sequel is entirely set in the cosmic world giving us a better look at the mythology and the other realms.
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