Corona | Coming Attractions

While wrapping up an interview with Tom Hiddleston about his latest performance as Loki in The Avengers, the actor concluded by mentioning Loki will return in Thor 2, and that the trickster won't be the only villain in the film.

While attending the Golden Globes, actor Idris Elba confirmed that he would be coming back as Heimdall for Thor 2. Elba said that it was a "for sure" thing.

Screenwriter Robert Rodat has been called in to perform a rewrite of Dan Payne's Thor 2 script. Rodat is best known for writing the screenplays for Saving Private Ryan and The Patriot, and created the TNT sci-fi series Falling Skies.

Alan Taylor has landed the job of being the new director of Thor 2. He's made his name most recently by helming episodes of HBO series like Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire, but also directed the feature film Palookaville.

Director Patty Jenkins has left Thor 2, citing amicable creative differences between her vision of the project and Marvel. That renews the hunt for a new director for the project. Already two names have surfaced as candidates and both directors have a lot of experience and acclaim directing high profile television shows.

The first candidate is Daniel Minahan. He directed the feature film Series 7, released in 2000, and has subsequently directed episodes of big HBO shows like Deadwood, True Blood and Game of Thrones.

The second potential is Alan Taylor, who has also done a lot of directing jobs for HBO. In addition to also helming episodes of Game of Thrones, he's done jobs for Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos. He also directed the 1996 film Palookaville.

Also being sought is a new screenwriter to do a polish on the Thor 2 script. Top candidates include Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan), Jon Collee (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) and Roger Avary (Pulp Fiction).

November 15, 2013 is the new release date for Thor 2. Moved from its July summertime berth, this new date is wide open and without any competition (yet).

There's a report that Monster director Patty Jenkins is close to being offered the job to direct Thor 2. She's also helmed TV episodes including the pilot for AMC's The Killing.

Meanwhile, another place has some quotes from Marvel's Kevin Feige that bear some meat about what we'll see in the sequel. Feige said that in Thor 2 we'll see the continued "journey of [Thor], of he and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman's character) and how the new dynamic with his father (Odin, played by Anthony Hopkins) is working out, as well as what are the broader stakes for The Nine Worlds." Feige further followed it up with a direct confirmation that we'll see Thor go "literally to other worlds."

Brian Kirk is the first candidate to be named as a possible director for Thor 2. According to Variety, Kirk is now in negotiations to make this project his first theatrical movie project. Up to now, he's directed episodes for network television, like the first three episodes of the first season of HBO's Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire and Showtime's Dexter.

Marvel Studios has hired screenwriter Don Payne (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer) to begin work on the script for Thor 2. As well, the studio has announced a release date of July 26, 2013 for the sequel.

Of the actors that appeared in the first movie, the only one so far confirmed to return in Thor 2 is leading man Chris Hemsworth. [Full story]