Thor 2 has picked up a new director in the form of someone who is best known for their TV work.

Marvel has announced that it has picked up Alan Taylor as the new director for the Thor sequel.  Taylor is best known for his work on Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire and Nurse Jackie, and directed the feature Palookaville.

The quick replacement of Patty Jenkins, who left the film earlier this month, means that the film can stay on track for its November 15, 2013 release date.  Apparently the comic company/movie studio was looking at multiple directors from the Game of Thrones series, and all one can figure is that they saw it as a similar style.

I guess what we’re learned here is being a director on a Marvel movie is a plug-and-play type situation.

[via Deadline]

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.