Since Marvel Studios and Disney's already-announced release date for Thor 2 is less than two years away, it's imperative for both that the project proceeds apace.  With Kenneth Branagh declining to return as director, Marvel had to select a new helmer for the continued adventures of the Thunder God played by Chris Hemsworth.  It would seem they've found their man, as Variety reports that Brian Kirk is in talks to take over as director Thor 2, which is set to hit theaters July 26, 2013.

Ever since the post-credit sequence of the first Iron Man, Marvel Studios has been using each new franchise film to built towards the crossover The Avengers, currently in production under director Joss Whedon.  With that film only a year away, though, we're starting to get an idea of the post-Avengers strategy.  After successfully introducing the Asgardian God of Thunder in May's Thor, Marvel and Disney have announced that the tentatively-titled Thor 2 will hit theaters on July 26, 2013.  Breakout star Chris Hemsworth will once again wield Thor's hammer, but Thor helmer Kenneth Branagh is not returning to direct.

Since Darren Aronofsky abruptly departed the X-Men spin-off/sequel The Wolverine back in March, his next project has been a big question mark.  He's been trying to find financing for an expensive interpretation of the Old Testament story of Noah and the Flood, but he's not sitting still while waiting for that would-be film to come together.  Instead, THR's Heat Vision reports that he'll direct the pilot episode of Hobgoblin, the HBO series from literary power-couple Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman.

Opening in theaters on May 13th is the new drama from writer/director Spencer Susser (I Love Sarah Jane) called Hesher. The movie premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and features an amazing cast of actors that includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception), Natalie Portman (Thor), Rainn Wilson (Super),  Piper Laurie (Carrie), and newcomer Devin Brochu. Artistdirect's Rick Florino recently had an opportunity to sit down with actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Rainn Wilson to discuss the new film, their characters, and Metallica.

As the first superhero film of the season, Thor officially kicked off summer this weekend, and the Norse God brought a moderate amount of box office thunder.  The Kenneth Branagh film debuted at number one with an estimated gross of $66 million, which is right in line with the expectations for the cinematic debut of the character.  After its big opening, Fast Five naturally fell to second place, with two new romantic comedies well behind in third and fourth place.

Opening in U.S. theaters on May 6th is the latest big screen adaption of a classic Marvel Comics character, Thor. The film tells the origin of the popular hero and acts as a bridge between Marvel's previous movies; Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and The Incredible Hulk, and their upcoming projects; Captain America: The First Avenger, and The Avengers. The movie is helmed by acclaimed director Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet), and stars Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) in the title role as the God of Thunder. The film also features an extraordinary cast that includes Oscar winners Natalie Portman (Black Swan), and Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs) , Tom Hiddleston (Midnight in Paris), Stellan Skarsgard (Good Will Hunting), Kat Dennings (Charlie Bartlett), Idris Elba (The Losers), Colm Feore (24), Ray Stevenson (Punisher: War Zone), Jamie Alexander (Love and Other Drugs), and Rene Russo (The Thomas Crown Affair). Artistdirect's Rick Florino recently had an opportunity to sit down with the cast of Thor, including director Kenneth Branagh, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Kat Dennings, and Jamie Alexander, to discuss the film, the character, the mythology, and The Avengers.

Synopsis:

The epic adventure Thor spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the mystical realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. As a result, Thor is banished to Earth where he is forced to live among humans. When the most dangerous villain of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero.

To watch our exclusive interview with the cast and crew of Thor, please click on the video player above.

Thor opens in U.S. theaters on Friday!

We're just a week from the American release of Marvel's Thor, and if you live in a metropolitan area, you're probably used to seeing the Thunder God's hammer, Mjolnir, smashing billboards and buses everywhere you turn.  While those ads don't exactly show off a lot of the film's fantastical content, a brand new Japanese Thor trailer shows off more of Asgard, the plot, and Sif and the Warriors Three (Jaimie Alexander, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, and Ray Stevenson) than we've been privy to so far.  There's a whole lot of new stuff in the trailer, so peep it post haste.

When the lead character of a film is an arrogant, hammer-swinging god who looks like an Aryan wet dream, he can easily overshadow the more grounded characters around him.  To balance things out in Thor, director Kenneth Branagh cast newly-minted Oscar winner Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, the mortal woman who captures the heart of Chris Hemsworth's Asgardian outcast.  A new behind-the-scenes video focuses on Portman, Foster, and her role in the film, and you can give it a watch here.

With the exception of his brief role as James T. Kirk's pappy in the opening of the Star Trek reboot, Chris Hemsworth is an unknown quantity to American audiences.  That has some people worried that he won't be able to pull off playing the titular God of Thunder in Marvel's Thor.  He certainly looks like the Asgardian deity-turned-superhero, but on his show the last two nights, Conan O'Brien has pointed out a potential problem with Hemsworth's performance.  Watch two eminently chuckle-worthy videos right here, courtesy of Team Coco.

Based on his hair and the fact that his primary hobby is wrecking stuff with a godly hammer, Thor seems like the kind of guy who would enjoy a hooky guitar track and some screaming vocals.  In an example of blockbuster synergy, a song from the Foo Fighters will be heard in a scene between Chris Hemsworth and Stellan Skarsgard.  The song, written by Foo frontman Dave Grohl, will also play over the end credits of Marvel's upcoming Asgardian adventure Thor.