We are currently in a slow portion of the MCU, but that should be ending soon. In a few months, Luke Cage and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4 will start, prior to the release of Doctor Strange at the end of the year. This will be the final film of 2016 for Marvel, before the studio moves to three films a year starting in 2017. The last film next year will be Thor: Ragnarok, and with the film just beginning production, there are plenty of reasons to be excited. Ragnarok is currently filming in Australia, while Spider-Man: Homecoming is filming in Atlanta, and while the latter has taken a lot of the spotlight, we are starting to get some more news on Ragnarok.
With the movie now in production, some of the cast have started talking about what their current status is in the process and what we can expect with each character. Tom Hiddleston is set to make his fourth appearance as Loki, but how he fits into the storyline with Hela coming to the party remains to be seen. He recently spoke to EW about what we can expect and why he is excited to be returning as this character.
It is actually a fight day tomorrow. I don’t think I’m fighting specifically him [Chris Hemsworth], however. Spoiler alert! But that’s all I will tell you. I’ve been here for 10 days. We’re really just at the beginning. I think they officially started filming just last week. It’s great. I’m having such a good time. Taika Waititi is brilliant, and his vision for his Thor film is so full of wit and humor and drama. He’s really been so attentive over the screenplay. I’m so excited. It’s a hell of a cast. It’s got quite a lineup.
It is great to hear how much he likes Waititi’s vision and the amazing cast that has been assembled, but a fight day sure is interesting. If you had forgotten, Loki is currently posing as Odin, so has Loki revealed himself finally that causes a fight to break out? Or is he trying to keep the kingdom safe as Odin? My guess is a combination where Loki is there at the front gates to meet Hela when she arrives and is fighting either her or Skurge, played by Karl Urban. Speaking of Urban, he also spoke to IGN about his training and costume.
There’s a bit of a few hours at the gym lifting heavy things, all of that sort of stuff. The irony is that you won’t actually see my body in this movie under the costume that I have, but it’s important for me to get into the zone and feel [the part].
Skurge is originally a very physically intimidating figure with axes, tattoos, and plenty of muscle, so him being covered in armor probably helps Urban with how much he has to beef up for the role. That said, what made him join this superhero project is not for the big recognition that he could have got with a different (bigger) role. Instead, he was excited to work with the ensemble, but more so Waititi.
[I] read a fantastic script that was action-packed and full of great characters. When I heard who was involved … and [saw] the opportunity to work with [director] Taika Waititi, who I think is one of the most brilliant directors coming through, I made the decision it was something that I wanted to be a part of. And the character is fantastic. He’s got a great arc to him.
Thor: Ragnarok is scheduled to hit theaters November 3, 2017.