Kenneth Branagh to direct Thor

Emmy Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated Northern Irish actor and film director Kenneth Branagh is in talks to helm a big screen adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Thor. He hasn’t directed an action movie in 19 years. However, his directorial debut of William Shakespeare’s play Henry V is could be perfect experience for the epic scope of Thor.

Written by Mark Protosevich, the story begins as the arrogant God Thor is sent by his father Odin to learn humility in the body of a partially disabled medical student Donald Blake. He discovers Thor’s hammer and learns to change back and forth into the Thunder God. Marvel will self-fiance the production, and a distributor is expected to be announced shortly. Marvel has announced a June 4th 2010 release date for the film.

The "Thor" negotiations come during a resurgence for Branagh. He's currently drawing raves on the London stage in the title role of "Ivanov," and he'll next be seen acting in the Richard Curtis-directed "The Boat That Rocked" and the Bryan Singer-helmed "Valkyrie."

Variety have more on this story.

What do you think of the news? Exciting or rubbish? Will Branagh bring along some great British Thespians to be in the movie? Who could play Thor, Odin and the rest?

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