Thor’s shorn locks aren’t the only things that’s different in the latest Marvel film, “Thor: Ragnarok,” where Marvel fans get to see Chris Hemsworth let his hair down – so to speak – and portray the God of Thunder with a hefty dose of physical humor and well-timed wisecracks.
At the premiere of the latest Marvel film Tuesday night, Hemsworth, director Taika Waititi, and other cast members drove home the point that the film would be different from previous Thor films.
There’s “a much, much greater sense of humor in this film, a sense of adventure,” Hemsworth said from the red carpet at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. “We took bigger risks than we took before. Any time it felt familiar, we just went in a different direction. And that’s when you get something unpredictable and unique.”
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| The cast of “Thor: Ragnarok poses on the carpet before the premiere screening with The Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn and Disney CEO Bob Iger. Michael Buckner/Variety/Rex/Shutterstock |
In “Ragnarok,” Thor has been imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and races to get back to his home planet, Asgard, to stop its demise at the hands of Hela, the first female main villain in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, played by Cate Blanchett. Before that, however, Thor must face off with the Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo, in a deadly gladiatorial match.
Helmed by Waititi, “Thor: Ragnarok” is the first major Hollywood film for the New Zealand director. Dressed in a sharply-tailored, plum suit on the red carpet, Waititi said the film’s light-hearted tone should bring some levity.
“What I’d really love is for people to leave the cinema feeling happy with a smile on their faces,” Waititi said. “This film is fun. I want people to be reminded that movies can be fun. We do take ourselves too seriously a lot of the time. What’s nice is to be able to go and laugh and forget the outside world for a little bit.”
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| Stars Cate Blanchett and Jeff Goldblum greet on the carpet. Michael Buckner/Variety/Rex/Shutterstock |
Hemsworth said the film allowed the MCU to expand into other worlds, much like the source material.
“From reading the comic books, I always thought we haven’t always explored the other realms like we could have,” Hemsworth said. “So we had the gamut of opportunity there to see different worlds. We get off Asgard, we get away from earth, and we go to a whole different place.”
The film also stars are Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban and Anthony Hopkins. Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige produced with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Thomas M. Hammel and Stan Lee as executive producers.
“Thor: Ragnarok” bows Nov. 3.
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| Chris Hemsworth with Disney CEO Bob Iger on the carpet Michael Buckner/Variety/Rex/Shutterstock |