Thor: The Dark World

Thor: The Dark World is the tentative title of the upcoming sequel to Thor and the eighth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It will be released on November 8, 2013 and will be available in 3D. Chris Hemsworth and much of the cast from the first film reprise their roles in the film. The film is being directed by Alan Taylor.

Plot
Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s “Thor” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Cast

 * Chris Hemsworth as Thor
 * Christopher Eccleston as Malekith the Accursed
 * Tom Hiddleston as Loki
 * Natalie Portman as Jane Foster
 * Jaimie Alexander as Sif
 * Anthony Hopkins as Odin
 * Ray Stevenson as Volstagg
 * Zachary Levi as Fandral
 * Tadanobu Asano as Hogun
 * Rene Russo as Frigga
 * Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Algrim the Strong/Kurse
 * Idris Elba as Heimdall
 * Alice Krige as a to-be-confirmed character
 * Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig
 * Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis
 * Clive Russell as Tyr Odinson
 * Richard Brake as Captain of the Einherjars

Production History
Natalie Portman and Kat Dennings are both contracted to reprise their roles in future installments in the Thor franchise. Chris Hemsworth will return as Thor Odinson in the sequel and Thor director Kenneth Branagh announced that he'll not return to direct the sequel.

On October 13, 2011 it was confirmed that Patty Jenkins would direct the film, but on December 2011, Jenkins exited the project, citing "creative differences".

The studio then selected Alan Taylor, best known for directing episodes of the HBO fantasy series Game Of Thrones, to direct the sequel.

The film will be shot in Iceland and London, England.

Trivia

 * Asgardian Sorceress Amora (The Enchantress) and Jotunheimian Warrior Skurge (The Executioner), long-time enemies of Thor and associates of Loki have been favorites for a Thor movie even going back to the initial planning stages of the first movie. They are now top contenders for the sequel.
 * Josh Dallas was supposed to return as Fandral but commitment with his TV show Once Upon a Time prevented him from returning. He was replaced with Zachary Levi who was the original choice for the role.
 * Mads Mikkelsen was considered for a role but he dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
 * This is expected to be the first Marvel film to include the Disney logo at the beginning, as The Avengers and Iron Man 3 are both expected to have the Paramount logo based on the original five-movie deal between Marvel and Paramount that was made following Iron Man before Disney bought the distribution rights to those two films from Paramount after the Marvel acquisition by Disney.
 * Former Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston has been cast to play Malekith the Accursed, who is presumed to be the primary villain.
 * Chris Hemworth has stated that, under Alan Taylor's direction, the second installment is to have a more Viking-influenced with more resemblance to Norse mythology when compared to the more science-fiction-themed first installment.
 * Though Tom Hiddleston reprises his role of Loki, the actor has stated that he is not expected to be a central villain and is rather seen taking responsibility for his crimes in The Avengers.
 * In August 2012, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was cast as Algrim the Strong / Kurse.
 * Kat Dennings will reprise her role as Darcy Lewis. Deadline.com reported that Denning's role was expanded from that of a comic relief sidekick.
 * In late 2011, Patty Jenkins was officially announced as director for this film. In December 2011, she backed out of the project due to "creative differences".
 * In Thor, the casket of Ancient Winters was held by the Frost Giants of Jotunheim; in the comics it was held by the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim, in particular their leader Malekith the Accursed. In the film Loki holds the Casket and asks Odin if he is accursed, in homage to Malekith. Malekith himself appears in this film.
 * At the end September, Jaimie Alexander was injured on the London film set, after she slipped while walking in the rain.
 * Natalie Portman was reportedly so upset that talks between Marvel and Patty Jenkins broke down that she refused to return for the sequel but she was forced to return due to her contract.