Marvel Cinematic Universe: Ranking Every Upcoming Project By Anticipation

9. Thor: Ragnarok

Marvel Cinematic Universe
Marvel Studios

The first Thor was a really fun film; not great, especially compared to later MCU entries, but it had two superb leads in Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, and director Kenneth Branagh made the whole Shakespearean superhero vibe really work. Thor: The Dark World, on the other hand, was a mess, and definitely sits in the bottom tier of Marvel movies.

It's a shame, since Thor is so great in the Avengers (he's my personal favourite), and Hemsworth excels in the role. It's a franchise deserving of a truly stellar entry, and early signs are that it could be Ragnarok.

Naturally some wariness is needed, since it's track record is iffy, but with Hemsworth and Hiddleston on-board, Natalie Portman freed from the MCU, with Tessa Thompson taking on the main heroic female role instead (meaning no more of that chemistry-free relationship between Thor and Jane), there's cause for optimism. That's only furthered with the addition of Mark Ruffalo's Hulk, with the actor previously describing it as an "intergalactic road trip", and Cate Blanchett as the villain.

Top it off with a left-field director choice - Taika Waititi, who made the excellent What We Did In The Shadows - and there's reason to be hopeful this will finally be the Thor film to hit with the power of Mjölnir.

Release Date: November 3, 2017.

Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.