Source: Unsplash by Manuel Salinas
Sorry Chris Hemsworth, there’s another Chris in town. As much as we love you, did you honestly believe you were the biggest star of your upcoming MCU adventure? Now, although one could be forgiven for thinking that Natalie Portman’s ‘Jane Foster’ (now wielding Thor’s former hammer) is the biggest surprise this movie has to offer… I beg to differ. And no, as much as Thor galivanting the galaxy with the Guardian’s of said Galaxy will be a treat, think bigger. See, in Thor: Love and Thunder’s most recent trailer, we finally get a look at the film’s primary big bad.
Oh, and for once it isn’t Loki.
His name? ‘Gorr’, often referred to as ‘The God Butcher’ in comic book literature (plenty of promise there), and played by none other than the body-morphing, method acting, Oscar-winning Christian Bale. And my oh my, doesn’t he look glorious?
With the majority of Gorr’s scenes within this trailer’s runtime being black and white, starkly juxtaposed against a splurge of rainbow-contending colours the rest of Thor’s adventure looks stuffed with… Bale’s villain looks to be a relentless embodiment of both doom and gloom. Better still, if you’re even passively familiar with Bale’s work (American Psycho, The Machinist and of course the Dark Knight Trilogy to name a few), then you know how capable Christian is at delivering top-tier performances.
But Mr. Hunter, what if he’s just in it for the pay-check? What if he’ll simply phone it in for a slice of that Marvel gig pie? Again, I beg to differ. There’s a few juicy morsels for thought concerning Bale’s inclusion in what will now be the god of thunder’s fourth solo (well, semi-solo) flick.
Firstly, after Christian exited the superhero genre in 2012 as batman via The Dark Knight Rises, he went on record saying he wasn’t interested in collaborating with Marvel Studios or participating in another superhero film…
“Would you be interested in working with Marvel? Is being involved in another superhero film something that you are looking to do? Because it does feel like the genre is only getting bigger when I thought it might be slowing down by now.“
BALE: “No, I’m not interested in doing that. I’ve never seen — I’m trying to think if that’s correct, I think I’m actually correct, I can’t remember a single superhero film that I’ve ever watched. Apart from the ones I made and like, the Christopher Reeve Superman films.“
Batman-news.com
So, for Bale to return to the world of superheroes, let alone a Marvel Studios production? Well, something about ‘Gorr’s’ story must have enticed him. And if so, that’s a mighty Thor strong sign we’ll be receiving this actor’s best.
Perhaps it was the opportunity to work with academy award winning screenwriter, Taika Waititi, that swayed the actor. With Waititi directing and having written the screenplay for Thor: Love and Thunder… it would stand to reason that the calibre of his work likely played a part in Bale’s change of heart.
I haven’t even told you the best part yet… but first tell me, are you worth-
Okay, okay… jeez. Taika Waititi has recently made a claim that would shock the Nine Realms, stating that in his humble (academy award winning) opinion… Christian Bale’s Gorr is “probably the best villain that Marvel’s ever had”.
Excuse me, what?
In a universe that contains Josh Brolin’s ‘Thanos’ (a villain often compared to the likes of ‘Darth Vader’), that is one major flex. Now sure, ‘director claims his movie’s actors are the best of the best’, in other news water is wet but… come on. Not only is this the claim of an academy award winning writer, talking about the supposed stellar performance of an academy award winning actor, but… well wait, what more do you need?
This isn’t some indie director’s pitch to Blumhouse Productions. No. This is the word of a film industry titan, with a track record to back up his claims (even if they are so outlandish they’d have Odin raise a brow).
With Gorr’s storyline in the comics being one filled with immeasurable woe, this is certainly within Bale’s remit:
marvel.fandom.com
…and who do you think he prayed to, only to be ignored time and time again?
Jesus f*@k%”g Christ. You can bet Waititi had a field day with this, conjuring up a harrowing tale truly worthy of Bale. So, do I believe this is Bale’s tale? Absolutely. His role could be key to ascending Thor’s soon to be Quadrilogy into Valhalla rivalling heights.
Thor: Love and Thunder is set to rumble into theatres July 8th.
Mr. Hunter approves.
P.S. If you dug my take on Thor: Love and Thunder and fancy more like it, give HuntersFlix a visit.
Go on, treat yourself.
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