What actor in their right mind would leave a gig on one of the most anticipated films of the new decade? I don’t know of any so when you get a name, let me know. Until then, here’s a casting shake up that marks a drastic shift in Kenneth Branagh‘s Thor movie. Stuart Townsend was originally signed on to star in the film as one of the Warriors Three, but that’s no longer the case. The actor suddenly quit the film, and has been replaced.

Townsend was set to play Fandral one of Thor’s closest allies, but according to a close source he left the project due to “creative differences.” The role has since been recast by Joshua Dallas, a young actor who looks nothing like Townsend, which makes me question the vision they have for the character. Dallas’s resume isn’t that long, he’ll appear in George Lucas’ upcoming war drama, Red Tails and made an appearance in the horror film, The Descent 2.

This recast couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time considering production was scheduled to begin today. Townsend has some of the worst luck when it comes to recasts. He was supposed to star as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy but was replaced at the last minute by Viggo Mortensen. Can you smell history repeating itself?

Do you think Townsend left the film willingly or was he pushed out? Do you think Dallas can do an accurate portrayal of the character?

Source: THR

Related Posts

• Townsend, Stevenson, Asano Cast in Thor (4)
• ‘Thor 2′ Villain Will Be Played By Mads Mikkelsen Of ‘Casino Royale’ (0)
• Joss Whedon Wants To Add More Female Superheroes To ‘The Avengers 2′ (3)
• ‘The Avengers’ Smashes $1 Billion Mark In Under 20 Days (0)
• Disney Officially Announces ‘The Avengers 2′ (Of Course) (1)
• Joss Whedon Promises 30 Minutes Of New Footage For Three-Hour ‘Avengers’ Blu-Ray (2)
• ‘The Avengers’ Scores $18.7 Million In Midnight Screening Ticket Sales (0)

Three beefy roles have been cast in Kenneth Branagh‘s upcoming live action adaptation of Thor. According to Variety, Stuart Townsend, Ray Stevenson, and Tadanobu Asano are all set to play the Warriors Three in the film. There were already rumors that the characters would be involved, so here are the actors attached to play them.

According to the trade, Townsend will play Fandral, a character which was drawn in the comic book series based on Errol Flynn and his movies. Stevenson, the Rome star, plays Volstagg the Valiant, a hard-living brawler, a character inspired by Falstaff. Asano, will play Hogun the Grim, the third warrior and traveling companion of the hammer-swinging Thor, who is played by Chris Hemsworth.

The Warriors Three are an interesting group of characters to cast in the film alongside the previously announced actors. Anthony Hopkins was recently cast as Odin, Thor’s father and Natalie Portman is on board as his love interest, Jane Foster. This movie is shaping up to be something worth looking into. Real directors, hiring the right actors as opposed to who’s hot at the moment is what will make the new wave of comic book movies timeless.

The only downside to all of this, is the fact that we won’t be able to see any of these guys in action until Thor is released on May 20, 2011! It seems like such a long time to wait, but hopefully it will be well worth it.

What do you think of Thor’s Warriors Three?

Related Posts

• Stuart Townsend Replaced in Thor Movie (3)
• ‘Thor 2′ Villain Will Be Played By Mads Mikkelsen Of ‘Casino Royale’ (0)
• Battleship: Movie Review (0)
• Joss Whedon Wants To Add More Female Superheroes To ‘The Avengers 2′ (3)
• ‘The Avengers’ Smashes $1 Billion Mark In Under 20 Days (0)
• Disney Officially Announces ‘The Avengers 2′ (Of Course) (1)
• Joss Whedon Promises 30 Minutes Of New Footage For Three-Hour ‘Avengers’ Blu-Ray (2)

More vampire movies, NOOO!!!! It’s so sad that I react so strongly to news that another bloodsucking film series is in the works. Now that I’ve composed myself, Latino Review is reporting that the tales of famed author Anne Rice are headed back to the big screen. Starting from 1976′s Interview with a Vampire, she wrote a succession of books called The Vampire Chronicles. Not only will another adaption be done, but Tony Stark, I mean Chaplin, I mean Robert Downey, Jr. might get in on the action!

More after the jump…

Besides Interview With a Vampire there has been one other feature adaptation from the Vampire Chronicles, Queen of the Damned. In both films the character of Lestat Lioncourt was front and center, and portrayed by Tom Cruise and Stuart Townsend. Universal is looking to, for lack of a better word “revamp” the film franchise, and they want to start with the leading man.

We have confirmed this afternoon that ROBERT DOWNEY JR. is in close talks to play the vampire Lestat in Universal Pictures’ The Vampire Chronicles, a newly rebooted franchise based on Anne Rice’s popular novels.

What is going on right now? I love RDJ, and I think he can do anything he sets his mind to, but I don’t know about this role. I feel confused about this on so many levels. He’s such a talented man, and I don’t want him pulled into the come and go trend of vampires that Hollywood has become obsessed with as of late. It kind of makes my stomach turn. What do you think?

Do you think Robert Downey Jr. can pull off playing Lestat the famed vampire?

Related Posts

• RZA Joins Downey in Due Date (1)
• Ryan Reynolds Replacing Tom Cruise in Motorcade? (2)
• Paul Dano Cast in Wichita (0)
• Robert Downey Jr is Spielberg’s Harvey? (1)
• Billy Bob Thornton Goes Pound for Pound (0)
• Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz Reunite for Wichita (1)
• Tom Cruise Set To Star In ‘Magnificent Seven’ Remake For Reasons Known Only To Xenu (0)