Stealing his thunder! Meet the British actor who was Marvel’s first choice to play Thor before they cast an unknown Chris Hemsworth
For the past nine years, muscle-bound Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has played Marvel superhero Thor.
But it turns out Chris was not actually the studio’s first choice to portray the hammer-wielding Norse god.
The iconic part that skyrocketed Chris’ career in Hollywood almost went to a British actor 10 years his senior.
Fancy that! For the past nine years, muscle-bound Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has played Marvel superhero Thor – but it turns out he was not actually the studio’s first choice
Since his debut as Thor in 2011, Chris has starred in seven Marvel films. His latest, Thor: Love and Thunder, is scheduled for release in 2022.
Charlie Wen, the co-founder of Marvel Studios’ visual development department, revealed the little-known fact about the ‘original’ Thor over the weekend.
He said that Grey’s Anatomy star Kevin McKidd, 46, had been considered for the role before anyone mentioned Chris as a candidate.
What could have been: Charlie Wen, the co-founder of Marvel Studios’ visual development department, revealed over the weekend that Grey’s Anatomy star Kevin McKidd (right) had been considered for the role of Thor before anyone mentioned Chris as a candidate
‘It was based on Kevin McKidd’: The co-founder of Marvel Studios’ visual development department, Charlie Wen, claimed early Thor concept artwork was based off the British actor. Pictured: Kevin McKidd in 2005 film Rome
He shared early Thor concept artwork, writing in the caption: ‘This was done even before pre-production started. I was trying out different actors to base Thor on since [Chris] didn’t have the role yet at the time. This was based on Kevin McKidd.’
Kevin has previously addressed the casting process for Thor, confirming to IGN that the rumours were ‘semi-true’.
But he didn’t get the role in the end because Marvel wanted ‘to go for someone younger for the role, a 19 or 20-year-old’.
‘I heard the rumours and called my agent and he said: “Yeah, we’re talking to them”‘: Interestingly, Kevin (pictured) suggested the Marvel rumours in 2007 were ‘semi-true’
Chris previously confessed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he’d stolen a few of Thor’s hammers over the last decade for personal use.
He said in 2018 that he had at least five hammers stashed at home.
Chris and his wife, Spanish actress Elsa Pataky, have been married since 2010 and share three children, daughter India, nine, and twins Tristan and Sasha, six.
The family reside in Byron Bay, a town on Australia’s east coast.
Family life: Chris and Spanish actress wife Elsa Pataky have been married since 2010 and share three children; daughter India, nine, and twins Tristan and Sasha, six