The cast of Kenneth Branagh's Thor keeps growing, as they've hired several new actors to join the gang. Ray Stevenson will play Volstagg the Valiant, Stuart Townsend will play Fandral and Tadanobu Asano will be Hogun the Grim. Filming gets underway in January in anticipation of Paramount's May 20, 2011 release.

Dr. Hannibal Lecter himself - Anthony Hopkins - is apparently in negotiations to join the cast of the upcoming Thor movie, where he will play Thor's father Odin if it indeed comes to fruition. I think Hopkins has a great presence and could easily pull off the bravado and strength of Odin.

When I think about comic book based movies, I don't always think of Oscar worthy actors such as Jude Law and Robert DeNiro being a part of the festivities (though the recent Batman movies are an exception). It seems like the duo might be joining the new Thor movie, however, as an actor in the running for a role in the film revealed to a German magazine that both actors have joined the film. No word on who the actors would play, but I'm leaning towards DeNiro playing Odin.

The cast of the upcoming Thor movies continues to grow, as actors Jaimie Alexander and Colm Feore have joined the cast. While we know who Alexander will play, Feore is only listed as a villain. Curious news indeed. Here is the rest of the news:

"In Marvel's epic fantasy, Alexander is playing Sif, a skilled Asgardian warrior who can hold her own against any man. She also is one of Thor's loves.

Feore's character is shrouded in mystery—the studio isn't even sending the actors the script—though it is known to be a villain.

The movie's story centers on Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions re-ignite an ancient war. As punishment, Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans. Once here, he learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends dark forces of Asgard to invade Earth."

Natalie Portman has starred before in some geek favorites, such as the Star Wars prequel trilogy and V For Vendetta. She also starred in one of my personal favorite movies - The Professional. It's starting to look like Portman is returning to yet another comic book property, as she has apparently joined the cast of Kenneth Branagh's Thor. Portman is expected to play Jane Foster, who in early comic-book lore was a nurse who became Thor's first love. The studio said the character will be updated for the adaptation.

Sources (aka a guy who knows a guy) are saying that actress Jessica Biel is in talks to join the upcoming Thor movie, playing the potential love interest of Thor. Since the sources seem to believe she would play one of the female characters featured not so long ago in the Hulk Vs. Thor animated movie, it appears that Biel would likely play either The Enchantress or Sif.

Writer J. Michael Straczynski has so far been the only man to write Thor since his re-introduction into the Marvel universe not so long ago. A new writer will be taking the helm before the end of this year, as Straczynski has just revealed he's going to being leaving the book. The main reason he's leaving is because of the fact that it looks like Thor is going to be sucked into a new 'event' happening at Marvel and he doesn't want to be a part of that.

"I agonized over this for months, then finally -- and I'm trying to remember when the email chain took place, but I think it was somewhere either just before or just after the first of the year -- I went to the ever-patient and wonderful [editor] Warren Simons, and the equally patient, warm and fuzzy [Publisher] Dan Buckley, and said of the coming event, "I really, really hate this, because creatively I'm having the time of my life, but I think I need to let go of the book or risk screwing it up when we hit the Event." It was an awful decision, not just because it's a hit book, but because it's the only place I could do that sort of faux-Shakespearean style of dialogue that I love so much. There's simply no other book out there where you can indulge in that.

There were no creative differences, no animosity, no rancor... just the question of how to handle being caught in the switches by my own shortcomings and ineptitude. I have to say here that Warren and Dan were absolutely understanding and supportive and gentle with me -- there are no horror stories here. They are gentlemen and scholars and the kind of business-men you want to work with, because through it all they remain human beings, and that's rare."

It's no surprise that the villain for the upcoming Thor movie would be Loki. The question has been, however, who would play him? Coming off the news yesterday that the film had found their Thor actor, director Kenneth Branagh has also revealed that he has his Loki picked too, and it's going to be Tom Hiddleston. Once again, I don't know him either. Branagh does know his body of work, as he has worked with the actor before on a show.

Director Kenneth Branagh has found his Thor and it's no other than Chris Hemsworth! Woohoo! Okay, I don't know him either, but he is making a name for himself. Besides being able to currently see him playing Kirk's dad in Star Trek, he'll also star in the Red Dawn remake, and is now filming Joss Whedon's Cabin In The Woods.

Charlie Hunnam - who currently stars in the FX series Sons of Anarchy - revealed that he is up for the role of Thor and has done a screen test for those involved in the decision making process. Hunnam is but one of the few names currently floating around as the possible star for the lead role of Thor.

Did you like it when Captain America's shield was seen in Stark's lab in the Iron Man movie? What about Stark making a cameo in the Hulk movie? If you enjoy these inter-universe cameos spread across the Marvel comic movies, you'll probably appreciate the fact that Thor's director has been asked to do some similar stuff. Marvel's editor-in-chief Joe Quesada said:

"He was really, really loving the interconnectivity between all of these characters and even thinking ahead as to how does Thor interrelate with the Iron Man movies. How will he interrelate with the The Avengers movies, and how do we set these things up."

Thor casting buzz continues, as it seems that Natalie Portman might be in the running to play a character in the upcoming Thor movie. Besides just playing a regular female character with no past association to the comics, Portman - if true - could be playing such Thor regulars as Enchantress, Sif, or Hela.

Marvel has got a lot of comic book film adaptations coming out, but they've just recently had to making changes and adjust their timeline for when certain movies will be coming out (barring future problems that could always happen). The new projected timeline is as follows:

Iron Man 2
May 7, 2010 - May 7, 2010

Thor
July 16, 2010 - June 17, 2011

The First Avenger: Captain America
May 6, 2011 - July 22, 2011

The Avengers
July 15, 2011 - May 4, 2012

Other than the fact that Kenneth Branagh was hired as the director for Thor, little has been revealed about the big screen adaptation of the comic book. There are two rumors today coming from two different sources, which claim that Kenneth Branagh has someone in mind who he'd like to play Thor, and another actor is really wanting to play the villain Loki.

In regards to Thor, Kenneth Branagh wants Alexander Skarsgård - someone I personally don't know from any past works - but he does look like Thor. As for the actor wanting to play Loki, Josh Hartnett wants to be the god of mischief.

We've heard casting buzz mostly up until now, but Marvel has finally released some dates that fans looking forward to the upcoming Thor and Iron Man films might be interested in reading. Thor - directed by Kenneth Branagh - is set to arrive in theaters on July 16, 2010. Iron Man 2 will begin principal photography in early April.