If you haven’t heard of the upcoming film Thor, just give it time, Marvel Studios will find you and make sure you know everything you need in order to prepare for one of this summer’s first blockbusters.
Thor is an important film for Marvel, in more ways than one. Besides the hefty $150 million price tag that the studio needs to recoup in order to put that money towards future projects, Thor is also the first Marvel film that will act specifically as a springboard to The Avengers. The Iron Man films are part of that universe as well, but both films were created before The Avengers film—and the high expectations that go with it—was fleshed out.
Thor (played by Star Trek’s Chris Hemsworth) is an arrogant, but noble Asgardian God who wields the power of thunder. Son of Odin, Thor is stripped of his power by his father after unwittingly unleashing an ancient enemy that threatens both Earth and Asgard. He is banished to Earth, where Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), an astrophysicist, finds Thor and takes him in. Meanwhile in Asgard, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) deals with the repercussions of Thor’s actions, and looks to Thor’s adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who has plans of his own.
Thor also stars Stellan Skarsgard, Ray Stevenson, Idris Elba, Rene Russo and Kat Dennings. It hits theaters in 3D on May 6, 2011.