Things are not off to a good start for the Thor sequel.

According to Deadline, Patty Jenkins was set to direct the sequel to the original after Kenneth Branagh decided to pass on it.  Now, with a November 15, 2013 release date hanging in the air, Ms. Jenkins has left the production over reported “creative differences.”  (Hollywood-speak for she wasn’t getting along with someone.)  Reportedly she may move on to another Marvel movie, but it will more than likely will be the first in a series as opposed to a sequel.  About the only thing certain at this point is that Chris Hemsworth will be back in Thor 2 in the title role.

This is one of the issues with the new Hollywood model of picking a release date and then working backwards from that goal.  If the slightest thing goes wrong, you then have to scramble to try to fix things as you don’t want to lose your locked date.  It’s like a 21st century version of a land rush as everyone wants to stake their claim to a weekend and hope that no one else picks it in an attempt to usurp them.  Although, in this case, I’d say move it.  November is not a month known for comic book film adaptations and November 15 of any year just seems an odd time to release a film like this.  Of course, Marvel has already laid claim to two dates in the summer of 2014 already that they haven’t even announced what the films will be yet.

Having finally watched Thor on a recent cross-country flight for business, I have to say it was a far better film than I expected, and probably the best Marvel film since the first Iron Man.  (I just watched Captain America on the flight back from England and wasn’t quite as happy with it although I didn’t hate it.)  I’m not even a big fan of the comic series and I enjoyed the movie, so I have high hopes for a strong sequel, but this is certainly not the way to get it off of the ground.

[via Deadline]

Can the world handle another dosage of the God of Thunder? Well, it better get ready as Thor 2 has gotten a release date.

While the first Thor film didn’t exactly burn up the box office compared to some of the other movies out there, that isn’t stopping Disney/Marvel from getting ready to release a sequel.  The film will hit screens on July 26, 2013, only about two months after Iron Man 3 hits on May 3, 2013.

Chris Hemsworth will be returning to the title role, but Director Kenneth Branaghwill not be back for the second film.  Reportedly his departure is not born out of any issues between him and the studio, but rather was a mutually agreed upon decision and was amicable on both parts.

No word on details such as a new director yet or if the script has even be started as of yet.

With the last few films building towards The Avengers coming out next year, I wonder if we’re now building towards The Avengers 2 by using solo movies to build things up again.  Obviously there is a master plan afoot here, we just don’t know what it is as of yet.

Is it possible that a comic book movie could be trying to stack the deck to win some Academy Awards?

As more news about the upcoming Marvel Entertainment Thor movie comes out, one has to wonder what exactly is going on.  Starring in a comic book movie was once akin to an actor saying, “I have a house payment due, and it was quick money”, but now not only are big names flocking to them, but the extremely well respected.

The whole ordeal with Thor started when Kenneth Branagh was announced as the director.  He is best known for his Shakespearean work, and while Thor is rife with mythology and odd speaking habits (it is based on Norse mythology after all), it still seemed like a rather odd “get” for a comic book film.

Then came news of Natalie Portman (yes, I still want her to shut up in her everyday life) joining the cast.  While V For Vendetta was her first comic book movie, it wasn’t quite as traditional as Thor may be.  True, we’re dealing with Norse Gods here, but there are still capes, tights and bulging muscles, something her last foray into comic book movies was missing.

The biggest “you have to be kidding me” moment came with the announcement that Sir Anthony Hopkins was joining the cast as Odin, the leader of the Norse Gods, and most specifically, Thor’s father. While Sir Hopkins has made some less than stellar films in his career, they are so rare, they are difficult to name.  He is an amazing actor, and to see him in a comic book movie is just not something I ever envisioned happening.

The actor cast as Thor, Chris Hemsworth, is still a relative unknown to the majority of the world, but with the talent surrounding him on this project, it would be difficult for him not to shoot for the stars with his performance.

So, what exactly is Marvel trying to pull off here?  Are they just trying to make the best movie possible, or are they aiming for a bigger prize?  Could we possibly be seeing the first planned attempt for a traditional comic book movie to make a run at some Oscar nominations? (Road to Perdition was based on a comic book, although that was severely underplayed at the time of its Oscar nominations)  There is no saying how this film will play, even with these very talented people involved, but it just seems like Marvel is throwing a lot of weight behind this movie, a lot more than it has behind some of their other projects.

This is all pure speculation on my part, but something sure feels different about this project.

EDITED TO ADD: Yes, I forgot about Heath Ledgers’ Oscar for the Joker in The Dark Knight.  So, yes, a caped hero movie has won an Oscar already, but this still feels like Marvel is gunning for one of their own, and is loading the deck in its favor.