Hammer Time: How the 2011 Cast Built an Empire It is hard to believe it has been 15 years since Kenneth Branagh brought the God of Thunder to the big screen. Back in 2011, the idea of a Shakespearean director tackling a Norse god-alien was a gamble. But looking back, the casting didn’t just launch a franchise—it anchored the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The Core Trio: God, Brother, and King
A classically trained actor from Cambridge and RADA, Hiddleston was a Branagh favorite (having starred in Ivanov and Wallander ). He originally auditioned for Thor but was cast as Loki. 2011 thor cast