Mar 11, 2009 by The MovieWeb Team

Could Josh Hartnett Be Loki in Thor?

So, as if the news that Alexander Skarsgard might be up for the lead in Thor wasn't enough of a casting rumor for one day, now news is coming out about who might be playing the Thunder-god's evil half-brother, Loki. According to IESB.net, Josh Hartnett is currently on the short list to take on the role of the god of mischief and evil.

It should be noted that this is not currently a done deal, however Hartnett has met with director Kenneth Branagh and both parties are interested in seeing if they can make it work.

Hartnett is reportedly very interested, since he has never before played a villain, and in addition to being intrigued by the character, Heath Ledger's Oscar win for The Dark Knight has shown that actors can be taken seriously playing comic book villains.

In the comics, and mythology, Loki is Thor's adopted brother, and is actually a diminutive Frost Giant. Loki fancies himself the God of Mischief, but ultimately becomes the God of Evil. He has been Thor's longest running foe throughout the comics, and in mythology is supposed to be one of the key forces behind Ragnarok, which is the Norse version of Armageddon. Hartnett would make for an interesting counterpoint to Skarsgard, if both casting rumors prove to be true.

For more information about Thor as it becomes available, keep reading SuperheroFlix and MovieWeb.

Thor was released May 6th, 2011 and stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba. The film is directed by Kenneth Branagh.


Sources: IESB.net

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Comments (27)

  1. littlerivers

    I like Hartnett, but I'd like Cillian Murphy for Loki better.

    3 years agoby @littleriversFlag

  2. Clockworkcookie

    I never read the comics but I really love norse mythology and it's kinda weird to have a handsome young guy playing Loki, I always picture him as older and creepy.

    3 years agoby @clockworkcookieFlag

  3. outlaw Returns

    I liked him more for the part of Thor.I think he can act if the material is good I mean why else do you think he is still working in Hollywood, maybe because he has done some good while he's been working in that town.

    3 years agoby @memo17Flag

  4. Oli

    Not a big fan of his, but whatever works.

    3 years agoby @reviloleeFlag

  5. Dani83

    Any sugestions on who could play the Lady Syf??

    3 years agoby @dani83Flag

  6. T.Clark

    I could see this. Sounds like they're trying to even out the unknown casting of Thor by casting a well-known for Loki. But when I picture Loki, I can't help thinking about that annoying, monologuing version in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. I think the only way Hartnett would be able to make Loki a serious threat is to portray him as a cunning intellectual, a deceiver who doesn't flaunt his trickery, he only basks in the suffering of others from behind closed doors. If they write Loki as an over dramatic super villain, people will be annoyed by it and Hartnett won't be able to pull it off anyway.

    3 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag

  7. KirkEpsilon

    That'd be fine by me! I think he could pull off this part. I'd love to see Sean Connery as Odin! That's just a personal hope lol

    3 years agoby @kirkepsilonFlag

  8. Escapist

    He has kinda played a villain before.....actually more like an anti-hero in Lucky Number Slevin.....he he pulled that off really good.

    3 years agoby @escapistFlag

  9. sutherland

    david tennant or ewan mcgregor

    3 years agoby @sutherlandFlag

  10. The Narrator: The Better Man

    Well, he did a great job in Lucky Number Slevin, so I can see this happening. But I would prefer someone like Bana...

    3 years agoby @narratorFlag

  11. Err

    thats cool, if we all had the same opinions this would be a boring-ass website.

    3 years agoby @err2005Flag

  12. killahmovieisbak

    i stand by my comment i think tha kid can act and would make a good loki

    3 years agoby @killahmovieisbakFlag

  13. joekerr2e

    Tired stories... I can give you ten different names for the part of Loki and then we can all type up our own rumor column. I just don't give a crap for Josh Hartnett. He doesn't have a big part in any movie that I actually give a crap about, other than 30 days of night. You can't pick Black Hawk Down, it was an ensemble cast. I don't understand the appeal to him.

    3 years agoby @joekerr2eFlag

  14. aeinhorn

    Comrade, that wouldn't surprise me at all, if studios were to leak casting rumors as a way of seeing what fan reaction would be. The only thing about it is that I remember how bad fan reaction was to the idea of Heath Ledger playing the Joker. If the studio had listened to the web on that one...

    3 years agoby @aeinhornFlag

  15. Err

    THIS JUST IN!
    Thor to be played by frankie muniz.

    UPDATE:
    frankie muniz denies rumors that he will be playing thor.

    3 years agoby @err2005Flag

  16. Err

    there should be a new column in the mW headline (main) page called "rumors". it seems like half the stories that have come through lately have been just that.

    personally i dont care but ive seen some comments by people who get upset when they find out a bit of "news" is actually just a rumor, and four hours after the bit goes up theres an update that says som'n to the effect of "rumor denied by so n' so".

    3 years agoby @err2005Flag

  17. -comrade-

    Sounds good. For a second I thought the headline was "Josh Duhamel to be Thor?" which kind of begs the question, since we see about twenty of this kind of "story" a week, do you ever think that maybe they just publish sh*t to see what the public reaction will be?

    3 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag

  18. Cap25

    Again, i have complete faith in Marvel's casting for the Avenger Lead up films.

    3 years agoby @cap25Flag

  19. aeinhorn

    mmm_mmm, Hemidal nothing. I want to know who's going to play Volstagg! That is what will make or break this movie.

    3 years agoby @aeinhornFlag

  20. Err

    josh hartnett is just awful.
    he is the reason i disliked every movie i've ever seen where he was a main character.
    "lucky number slevin" is a prime example of a movie that could have been really great except that the main character was played by the deplorable skilless hartnett.

    3 years agoby @err2005Flag

  21. killahmovieisbak

    i can see him pull it off he was evil in "O" and i can see him makiing it work he's a good actor

    3 years agoby @killahmovieisbakFlag

  22. ed_wood

    Not too sure about this. Maybe, I guess.

    3 years agoby @ed-woodFlag

  23. Ethlenn

    I can't see Josh playing anything...

    3 years agoby @ethlennFlag

  24. Mmm_mmm

    i think we all really care about who plays Hemdal

    3 years agoby @mmm-mmmFlag

  25. righthandofdoom

    Im not to sure about this. I dont really see Josh Hartnett playing Loki. I just cant see it.

    3 years agoby @righthandofdoomFlag

  26. MC Legendary

    im ok with this?

    3 years agoby @normanse7enFlag

  27. ...YeahButTheBookWasBetter

    I could see it working

    3 years agoby @theboywhocriedsequelFlag

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