Australia-based actor Russell Crowe has officially joined the cast of the upcoming Marvel Studios sequelThor: Love and Thunder.The role is being kept under wraps for the moment and was originally planned as a surprise until photos of Crowe hanging out with the cast in Australia surfaced online.
Deadline confirms that Crowe joins fellow cast members Chris Hemsworth, who is reposing his role as Thor Odinson, Natalie Portman, who plays previous love interest Jane Foster, and Christian Bale as the film’s antagonist Gorr the God Butcher. Tessa Thompson, who joined the MCU inThor: Ragnarok, also returns as Valkyrie.
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Born in New Zealand, Crowe has lived in Australia for most of his career. He is perhaps best known for his Oscar-winning performance inRidley Scott’s epicGladiator.More recently, he starred in the thrillerUnhingedas a road rage inflicted driver who torments a woman and her child after a brief encounter. Crowe’s other notable recent roles include muscle for hire/ private investigator Jackson Healey in the 1970s era Shane Black buddy comedyThe Nice Guysand Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde in the Tom Cruise led rebootThe Mummy.Crowe also portrayed Superman’s father Jor-El in the 2013 filmMan of Steeland had a brief voice cameo in therecently releasedZack Snyder’s Justice League.
Thor: Love and Thunderhas already been subject to other casting rumors and confirmations in recent months.Comedic actress Melissa McCarthy was spotted on setportraying a ‘fake Hela’ and actor Matt Damon also appears to be reprising his role fromThor: Ragnarokas ‘fake Loki.’ Director Taika Waititi and Marvel reportedly wanted to keep Crowe’s casting a secret in the hopes that it would surprise fans when they saw the film. The same tactic was used for Damon’s role inRagnarok,whose appearance in that film came as a total surprise. However, after Crowe was spotted spending time with other members of the cast in Australia, where the film is shooting, fans began to speculate.
Fellow New ZealanderWaititi returns as director forThor 4, following his first Marvel filmThor: Ragnarok.Little is known about the plot at the moment, but it appears that Portman’s Jane Foster will be taking up the hammer and becoming the new Thor, much like her comic book counterpart.
Other confirmed cameo’s in the film includeGuardians of the Galaxyactors Chris Pratt as Star-Lord andKaren Gillen as Nebula. Crowe was also recently cast alongside Zac Efron inGreen Book director Peter Farrelly’sThe Greatest Beer Run Ever.
Thor: Love and Thunderis currently scheduled to be released on May 6th, 2022.
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