Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

The third film in the Thor series

Summary

-While imprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must save Asgard from destruction at the hands of Hela

Cast

-Chris Hemsworth: Thor

-Tom Hiddleston: Loki

-Cate Blanchett: Hela

-Idris Elba: Heimdall

-Jeff Goldblum: Grandmaster

-Tessa Thompson: Valkyrie

-Karl Urban: Skurge

-Mark Ruffalo: Bruce Banner / Hulk

-Benedict Cumberbatch: Dr. Strange

Did You Know?

-Sir Anthony Hopkins was reluctant to reprise his role as Odin. But after reading the script, he changed his mind

-Prior to the destruction of the sets for 2016's Doctor Strange, director Taika Waititi used them for a scene that had been written for the movie. It featured Thor meeting Dr. Stephen Strange

-In both the Marvel comics and Norse mythology, Loki is the father of Fenris the Wolf and Hela

-This is the first time that the Incredibly Hulk is voiced by Mark Ruffalo, not Lou Ferrigno. Lou Ferrigno voiced the Hulk in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, 2012's The Avengers and 2015's The Avengers: Age of Ultron

-Cate Blanchett accepted the role of Hela to please her children. Her eldest son, Dashiell John Upton, said that it would be a good career boost

-In one scene, when Thor becomes a gladiator, his iconic long hair is cut short. In the history of ancient Roman gladiators, those chosen to become the iconic arena fighters were sent to gladiator school and had their hair cut short. Thor also wears a winged helmet, which is a nod to both the Marvel comics and Norse mythology

-On the soundtrack for this film is Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song". Led Zeppelin is often very choosy and known for rarely, if ever, allowing their music to be used in TV, films or video games. The times that their music has been used, it's been in connection with rock journalist Cameron Crowe

-Like the other Thor movies, Chris Hemsworth had to follow a strict diet to put on additional muscle weight for this film. He did this by working out almost all 7 days of the week and eating 6,000 calories a day

-While on Earth, Thor disguises his hammer, Mjollnir, as an umbrella. In the comics, while out and about in his mortal form of Dr. Donald Blake, he disguised his hammer as a walking stick

-Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" was chosen to appear in the film because of its Norse mythology lyrics "I come from the land of the ice and snow / from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow / the hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands / to fight the horde and sing and cry Valhalla I am coming"

-To train for her role as Hela, Cate Blanchett studied the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira

-In one scene, where Dr. Strange leaves his business card, the address reads 177A Bleecker Street. It's accurate to the comics and similar to 221B Baker Street (the address of Sherlock Holmes, who Benedict Cumberbatch played on 2010's Sherlock). It's the real life address of Dr. Strange writer Roy Thomas

-During the scene that introduces The Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), a sort of synthesizer sound is heard. In real life, Goldblum is a highly talented pianist. He and a jazz combo band he has play semi-regular concerts at the Rockwell in Los Angeles, California

-Cate Blanchett's character Hela was the first female villain in a Marvel movie

-In both the comics and Norse mythology, Valkyrie was fair skinned, blonde, typical features from in and around Norway. In the movie, she is played by a black actress named Tessa Thompson. Director Taika Waititi said "This was not a deliberate decision to diversify the movie. It's about choosing the best person. You're working with comic book Vikings, so you have to look at the source material as loose inspiration. A character's skin tone and hair color doesn't matter. I think the story is king, and you want the best person for the job, and Tessa was the best person."

-This movie was released on the 55th anniversary of the debut of the original Thor and Incredible Hulk comics in addition to the centennial of creator Jack Kirby

-Director Taika Waititi based the character Korg on Polynesian nightclub bouncers, who didn't have to be aggressive, so they could be friendly and mild mannered