Thor: Ragnarok is currently under production, but we don’t know a lot about the film concerning the motivations of the villains. We have a bit of a rundown of them and quotes from some of the actors including Tom Hiddleston, Karl Urban and Jeff Goldblum about their roles, also some speculation of their dynamics in the film.
Tom Hiddleston spoke to Entertainment Weekly about finally returning to the Loki role after a four-year hiatus, also praising his co-stars and it’s screenplay.
I’ve been here for 10 days. We’re really just at the beginning. I think they officially started filming just last week. It’s great. I’m having such a good time. Taika Waititi is brilliant, and his vision for his Thor film is so full of wit and humor and drama. He’s really been so attentive over the screenplay. I’m so excited. It’s a hell of a cast. It’s got quite a lineup.
[Laughs.] There are some heavy hitters in the lineup, and not everyone is here yet. It’s Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson, and myself. We’ve got some others coming. Thus far, it’s really fun. And also, it’s been three years since I’ve played. I think I last wore the costume at Comic-Con in 2013. It was 2012 when we wrapped The Dark World. It’s just been a long time, and to don the black hair and leather and all of Loki’s stuff is good fun.
Karl Urban admittedly says he started filming but gives a hint that Skurge will have some kind of arc. A majority of the Marvel villains outside of Winter Soldier and Loki, don’t have arcs so it’s promising to hear that he might.
“Well, it’s difficult for me to really comment about it because I haven’t started production yet, but I’m looking forward to getting on set, For me, I read the script and it was a fun script and quite different than the previous Thor movies, and I was drawn to the appeal of working with Taika Waititi, the director. So, the coolest thing about Skurge? I think is probably his journey through the film. There’s change and there’s – he finishes the film in a different place than he starts and, as an actor, that’s always something you look for.”
Originally, Skurge is the henchman to Amora The Enchantress and that likely won’t be the case as they haven’t announced she is a part of the film. I wouldn’t be terribly shocked to see him a loyal undead lackey to Hela.
We’re still unsure how villainous Jeff Goldblum‘s Grandmaster will be in the film, but the actor shed some light on the character while speaking with Empire. I’m curious if he’s ally or a rival of Hela/Thanos, as he’s also interested in the infinity stones and their power.
“He’s a hedonist, a pleasure-seeker,” explains Goldblum, “an enjoyer of life and tastes and smells. I thought, ‘I can do that, I’ll bet!’ I’m working on my part every day. I’m a sponge, researching.” He’s putting his unique Goldblum stamp on the role, too. “[Taika Waititi] is encouraging me to improvise and make it my own, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I hope he doesn’t throw me out on the first day!”
The main villain of the film is Cate Blanchett‘s Hela, and will be the first female lead villain in a Marvel Studios film. Director Taika Waititi spoke to The Daily Beast explaining his desire to see more female characters and excitement to include the first big female villain.
“Thi
s film has [Marvel’s] first female villain, and that’s exciting for me,” he continued. “I want to see more females onscreen and not just dudes. There’s nothing wrong with that, but there’s a lot of it in the world. We need more representation of all kinds. In all seriousness, from what I’ve seen—although it’s not like I’ve been around a lot of studios—they are aware of it, and they’re very conscious and vocal. I’ve heard people say, ‘We need to make them better.’”
Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo even spoke to Entertainment Tonight about Cate’s Hela, giving the impression she might even send Banner and Thor to Valhalla or her own underworld realm of Hel. Could their journey be an attempt to return to the world of the living?
“I mean, she plays the worst of the worst, so evil she’s going to kill us.”
Seeing if Hela’s motivation is a siege/invasion of Asgard and other realms with her undead army, or possibly an alliance with Loki. In the comics, she is the daughter of Loki and it’s unlikely that’ll happen as it’ll be very tough to explain. We’re interested to see the dynamic with her, Hiddleston’s Loki, Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster and Urban’s Skurge as we assume the four will have some villainous relationship.
There is also the possibility that Hela could end up being Thanos’ love Death, and her role might rollover to Infinity War.
SOURCE: EW & COMICBOOK