'Thor' Adds a Different Skarsgard

By Elisabeth Rappe

We're entering into a frustrating trend with Thor news now. Excellent actors continue to sign on, but we have no idea who they are playing, which certainly keeps things interesting, but hurts when it comes to the geek discussions we could be having. The latest to reportedly join the cast is a Skarsgard, but not the one who you might expect.. According to Swedish news site Ystands Allehanda, Stellan Skarsgard has joined the cast of Thor in an unspecified role.

As you Thor fans undoubtedly remember, Stellan's son Alexander was in the running to play Thor. Skarsgard confirmed that he was so close as to have tried on the costume, and was one of the last contenders cut before Kenneth Branagh chose Chris Hemsworth. (Every episode of True Blood I see, I think Hemsworth has to be something really special if they cut Skarsgard, who would have been my pick.) If the elder Skarsgard is indeed part of the cast, I would like to be a fly on the wall for that family phone call.

My immediate guess (or my biggest hope) as to who Skarsgard might be playing would be Odin. While Marvel's version of Odin is a very beefy one, Skarsgard would be more in tune with how the god is usually portrayed in Nordic art and mythology. It would certainly be more interesting to have the crafty, American Gods version of Odin over one that just looks like an older Thor. Otherwise, your guess is as good as mine. Hopefully, we won't have to make too many guesses, and Skarsgard will not only be confirmed through official channels, but those official channels will reveal just where he fits into Asgard.

[via Empire]