Starting a new franchise isn’t easy. Many studios abandon possible sequels when the box office isn’t up to snuff or the reception isn’t there. For Marvel Studios, they’ve had a pretty decent track record. Their latest franchise, Thor (a cog leading up to Joss Whedon‘s The Avengers) debuted in May and it has gone on to make almost $450 million at the worldwide box office. Deadline breaks the news today that Marvel Studios have made “a full commitment” to a sequel.
Thor 2 will see its lead Chris Hemsworth return, but director Kenneth Branagh will reportedly not after a “mutual and amicable” exit. Expect him to stay on as some sort of producer though. I thought the director did a great job at setting a tone for the universe, but I’m somewhat excited at the prospects at another person taking the helm. At least I hope there will be less canted angles.
Just as Marvel has Captain America: The First Avenger coming out this year, they will double up in the summer of 2013 with Shane Black‘s Iron Man 3 hitting theaters May 3, 2013. Disney will reportedly set a release date for Thor 2 today, and I would guess it would be sometime in July to distance itself for Robert Downey, Jr.’s film.
But before all that see the whole gang of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Clark Gregg, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Tom Hiddleston, and Stellan Skarsgård in The Avengers on May 4th, 2012.
Who would you want to see take on Thor 2? Do you even want a sequel?