It seems the Donald Blake from the Thor world has been added to the upcoming Thor movie. As some of you may already know, the original script for Thor had the entire story and movie taking place in Valhalla and not crossing into the “real world”. I thought this was a terrible idea right from the start.
But according to our friends over at IESB.Net some significant script changes have been made and the Donald Blake character has been added which obviously suggests that the Thunder God will, at least in part, be in our world. If you’re not familiar with who Donald Blake is:
“Thor’s father Odin decides his son needs to be taught humility and consequently places Thor (without memories of godhood) into the body and memories of an existing, partially disabled human medical student, Donald Blake. After becoming a doctor and thoroughly believing himself to be the young surgeon Blake, he later discovers Thor’s disguised hammer and learns to change back and forth into the Thunder God. The real Blake’s persona remains elsewhere until many years later, after Odin becomes satisfied of Thor’s humility and lifts the spell, thereby removing the need for a mortal alter ego. The mortal experience, however, shapes Thor into an honorable and courteous individual, who is loyal to all comrades.”
To me this is a much better idea. I’ve always said that the modern comic book movies work for non-comic and comic fans alike is the idea of the fantastic within the mundane. Extraordinary characters within the context of the ordinary world. A movie about the god of Thunder living in the land of the gods alone I think will lose much of its potential punch and lack appeal to the mainstream audience.
Then there’s the obvious fact that Thorn needs at the very least a segue into the Marvel world of Iron Man, Hulk and Captain America since they’re all appearing together in the forthcoming Avengers movie in 2011. If nothing else this alone necessitates at least part of the Thor story (I’d like to see at least half) take place in our mortal world.
So what do you think about the addition of the Donald Blake character to the Thor movie? Like it? Or would you rather see it all in Valhalla?
The Original movie should have the same line as the comic. Blake should have been included the way the comic was written. I believe it would have been more interesting and make a slightly longer movie.
I can see the argument but I think it would be cool to keep it in Valhalla. There is a lot of story from the original comics and it would be interesting to see Marvel’s take on epics. Norse mythology is one area that hasn’t been delved into thoroughly. Would be nice to see more of it considering the potential of how much it can bring to the silver screen. With that said, you are right in that there has to be that bridge which connects the Marvel Universe movies. Hopefully they keep that part simple and wrestle with the meat of Thor’s History a la Valhalla and the conflict between Norse Gods. And in case someone from the pre-production team is reading . . . Loki better be a badass.
geez, i forgot all about donald blake. imo i think we should not include him in the movie.
Thor being in our world is dependent on what Thor character they are going to give us i nthe movie. I would prefer The Ultimates Thor, an activist from Europe claiming to be a god.
Hey John,
I was reading your top fifteen movies of 2008 and I noticed something odd. I could be wrong, but didn’t Smart People come out this year and wasn’t that one of your favorites. You gave it a nine and The Dark Knight was an 8.5 so I just figured. I don’t know. But there you go.
FAST FOOD TIE-IN TOYS FOR THE DARK KNIGHT THAT NEVER QUITE MADE IT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7DNnyZsw7k
Great!
as long as they have loki in it i dont care if they made it with laserbeak in it
>So what do you think about the addition of the Donald Blake character to the Thor movie? Like it? Or would you rather see it all in Valhalla?
I think it’s really bad idea.
I think this is a really good idea. We need a human character to ground this movie for two reasons: so people unfamiliar with Thor can relate to the character, and so the movie as a whole can better relate to the tone set by Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk.
Even Marvel, after many years of completely ignoring him, has brought the Donald Blake character back into the fold for its new Thor comic series (written by J.M. Straczynski of Changeling and Babylon 5 fame), so that should tell you something about the character’s ability to make stories more accessible for new readers and viewers.
i’m still unsure how this will be……..
It was inevitable. I think this was a correct choice. But with this in mind, there isn’t much possibility for action. He’s learning lessons like an afterschool special. And I have no idea how they could pull off Thor’s old caped look. It will look undeniably silly on screen. But my prime concern is Blake’s discovery of Thor. When Dr. Blake finds the hammer he changes into Thor and fights off an alien horde. Hopefully they’ll just replace it with a robbery or something.
And my choice for Thor would’ve been Liev Schreiber. He’s big enough, he can build up enough bulk, and he wouldn’t look bad blonde and shaven. Too bad he’s already Sabretooth.
If you want to learn more about Thor, here’s the marvel.com link
http://www.marvel.com/universe/Thor
What i’d like to see, 3/4 of movie set in Asgard. Market the movie as a viking/god/monster filled epic. Ends with Ragnorak and Thor finding himself in the real world as Donald Blake and Nick Fury knocking on his door. I know this wont happen but it would be fun.
iesb says dr blake has been added on to the end of the film so hopefully it wont be too bad.
maybe at the very end they can just cut to some doctor in his office with a cane looking really really bored out of his skull.
lol.
id be down with that.
they also report branagh will have an acting role in the flick- hells yeah!
And not to nitpick here, but Phil is right, it’s Asgard (not Valhalla)
Wasn’t Kevin McKidd talking about wanting to play Thor? He would be my first choice. Anyone who has seen Rome hopefully understands why.
Sound like a solid idea and will correlate with the current run of comics (That are quite good IMO) as long as they get a solid actoranddon’t cheese it to bad. This is a hard charachter to make credible IMO and if theyare gonn tie him into the Avengers it’s nessacary.
I would like to see the final Ragnrok saga ons creen but that ain’t gonna happen
Hey, that sounds like a neat idea! I’m not familiar with the comics, but it’s still a cool concept. Although now it sounds like season 5 of Buffy.
john
i know, but i dont want it to be someone ive never heard of before
my pick was daniel craig…..
They should get the guy who played Thor in the Incredible Hulk Returns to replay the part. Let’s Fight, troll! Ha-ha
@LeeLoo
Please don’t say that, don’t even think it.
I’m happy with this news personally. The Thor of the 60’s comics who turns into Dr Donald Blake and is in love with a mortal woman is the Thor that I know and the one I want to see on screen.
…..and we must see the rainbow bridge of Asgard; verily, forsooth.
I agree with you richie it has to take place in both worlds.
It has to take place in both worlds in order to explain his origin and necessary for the Avengers movie.
Its a great idea, I agree that a total Thor story in Valhalla would not have gone so well. I am starting to think this is all a pipe dream anyhow and will never happen, so this kinda news really doesnt get me so fired up.
Heres to silly dreams
Hey hazmat
Why a named actor? Named doesent mean better
get an actor already! and make it a known actor!!
ugh.
next week: branagh leaves thor.
John I think you are right It would fit into the Marvel universe that the studio has set up already with Iron Man and Hulk.