It’s difficult to imagine Marvel movies or TV shows without the impact of Thor, Loki, and the rest of the Asgardian cast on the universe as a whole. Due to the heavy influence that the 2011 film has on creating the MCU, it remains an essential part of any Marvel binge. Watching Thor must happen in order to understand the set-up in 2012’s The Avengers.
While the first Thor wasn’t as exciting as the one directed by Taika Waititi, Sir Kenneth Branagh (best known for his work on Shakespearan plays) tried to bring some gravitas to the proceedings. The Asgard scenes, especially, drew a lot of inspiration for the director’s previous work. As Thor hit its decade anniversary in 2021, there are plenty of behind-the-scenes to share with even the most dedicated Marvel fan.
Fake Audition Address
Kat Dennings plays the part of Darcy Lewis in Thor, who is Jane’s sarcastic assistant meant for comic relief. She recently made a splash, however, in Marvel’s WandaVision as she attempted to free the town under Wanda’s spell. Dennings has done some excellent work in the role, showcasing her comedic chops to full effect.
Kat Dennings was given a fake address for her audition, reports CinemaBlend. She showed to the address given to her, only to find no one there. She was then approached by a man on a golf cart who was there to take her to the actual audition. This may not seem too crazy now because Marvel is known to go to great lengths for secrecy. At the time, however, they did not have this reputation.
Fandral’s Fate
Fandral is a close friend of Thor and Loki, and a member of the Warriors Three. The Warriors Three features prominently in Thor, alongside Lady Sif, as they try to help Thor return to Asgard to save Odin and team up with him to defeat Loki. However, by Thor: The Dark World, Fandral looks a bit different.
In Thor, Fandral is played by Josh Dallas, known for his role as Prince Charming in Once Upon A Time, but he is replaced by Zachary Levi in Thor: The Dark World. According to The Things, Zachary Levi was always meant to play Fandral. Unfortunately, Levi was forced to withdraw from Thor due to scheduling conflicts. As fate would have it though, Levi was able to take up the role in the next film.
A Different Odin
Odin is the Allfather, Thor and Loki’s father who is known as the protector of the Nine Realms. As the movie continues on, however, the audience learns that Odin has made some less than stellar choices in his life, making him controversial amongst fans. Even so, Anthony Hopkins did an excellent job playing him.
But what if Odin were played by someone else? The Things reports that Stan Lee often joked that he would be a great Odin. Long before Thor was even conceptualized, Stan Lee would often joke that he thought he could play the role. This joke only continued after Thor was put into production. While Lee didn’t get to live out this dream, he still had his iconic cameo with Thor’s hammer.
Eyebrow Regret
Thor has gone through many transformations throughout his movies. With each movie, his hair grows longer and longer until it is suddenly cut off during a Stan Lee cameo in Thor: Ragnorak. Thor: Ragnorak also sees Thor’s armor change to a more rugged version than what fans were used to. But perhaps the biggest difference is Thor’s look in the very first film.
Thor is young and cocky in the first film, not quite the hero the audience knows now. But one thing that makes him look so different compared to other movies is the fact that Hemsworth’s eyebrows were dyed to match his blond hair. According to Entertainment Weekly, Kevin Feige has since said one of his biggest regrets was allowing this eyebrow mishap to happen.
Jane And Thor
The romance between Jane and Thor in the first film is central to the plot. Without Jane, Thor may have never grown out of his selfish ways and become the hero Asgard needed. Their relationship, though a bit rocky, was also enthralling for the more romantic MCU fans.
According to The Things, the big kiss between Jane and Thor was a bit difficult to achieve. Natalie Portman, who plays Jane, stands at 5’3 while Chris Hemsworth is an entire foot taller at 6’3. This makes leaning down for a romantic movie kiss just a little bit awkward. Portman had to be given a box to stand on so that the height difference wouldn’t be so extreme and the kiss could happen smoother.
A Third Brother
The rivalry between Thor and Loki is legendary, literally. The characters are pulled from Norse mythology and while they aren’t brothers in the original myths, they do have quite the rivalry. But what if yet another brother had been added to Marvel’s lineup?
According to CinemaBlend, Thor was originally going to feature a third brother: Balder the Brave. In the comics, Balder (based off the Norse deity Baldr) is Thor’s half-brother. While seeing this dynamic play out on screen would have been interesting, Balder was ultimately cut so that filmmakers could focus more on Loki and Thor’s relationship.
Thor Is Too Strong
Thor is obviously a warrior. His ability to yield thunder and lightning, as well as Mjolnir, makes him a formidable foe. However, his strength and fighting prowess are equally as impressive. It then only makes sense that Chris Hemsworth would need to put on some muscle for the role.
Well, Hemsworth may have put on a bit too much muscle, according to CinemaBlend. Marvel had told Hemsworth to put on as much muscle as he could, and he really delivered. However, this meant that Hemsworth could barely fit into his costumes. It was so bad that he actually lost circulation in some places. The Thor star had to eventually lessen his workout routine to reduce his own pain while in costume.
Loki’s Painful Helmet
In the first Thor movie, Loki often worse his iconic horned helmet. The helmet was very dramatic and grandiose, much like Loki himself. After the first movie, however, Loki wears the helmet significantly less, if at all. According to Tom Hiddleston, however, there was a real-life reason why the helmet didn’t appear as much.
In a 2010 interview with MTV, Tom Hiddleston’s costume caused him a lot of pain, much like Hemsworth’s did for him. Hiddleston said the costumes themselves were already hot for everyone, but adding the giant helmet made his even hotter. This often made filming for hours very grueling. However, Hiddleston is a true professional and said that he often channeled this discomfort into his villainous role.
Chris Hemsworth Almost Wasn’t Thor
Thor is an iconic character within the MCU. His power is unforgettable along with his sense of humor. Chris Hemsworth is responsible for bringing this God to life, and fans agree that no one could have done it better. Hemsworth, however, almost refused the part.
According to CinemaBlend, Hemsworth almost didn’t take the part after learning it required a six-picture deal. That is an intimidating deal for a still up-and-coming actor, so it only makes sense that it would give Hemsworth pause. Luckily for fans, however, Hemsworth decided to take the deal, bringing to life one of the most beloved MCU characters.
Loki as Magneto
Loki is one of, if not the, most iconic villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He currently has one of the longest runs of any MCU character and continues to bring new challenges to the table. His character needed to be strong from the very beginning to carry such a load.
According to CinemaBlend, Marvel knew Loki needed to be a good villain if he was going to go on to be the villain in The Avengers as well. So what did they do? Marvel told writer Zack Stentz to make Loki “as good as Magneto”. Magneto is an iconic X-Men villain and was especially popular at the time, so it makes sense that Marvel would want an equally strong villain. This seems to have worked because Loki is one of Thor‘s best characters.
