Kenneth Branagh’s Thor starts production tomorrow and there is already one small hiccup in the process. Irish actor Stuart Townsend (pictured left) was set to play the supporting character of Fandral, part of Thor’s pack. AP reports that he has been replaced by upcomer Joshua Dallas (pictured right) due to “creative differences.” Check out the AP excerpt below.

Townsend had been cast as Fandral, an ally of Norse god Thor. He was replaced by Joshua Dallas, according to the two sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record.

The cast change came as production was about to begin. Shooting starts Monday on the movie directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Irish actor Townsend, 37, best known as the boyfriend of Academy Award winner Charlize Theron, starred in “Queen of the Damned.” He had been cast as Aragorn in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy but was replaced at the last minute by Viggo Mortensen.

Dallas, an American actor who is a relative newcomer, appears in George Lucas’ upcoming Tuskagee Airmen drama “Red Tails.

This is pretty minor news. Joshua Dallas looks quite similar to Townsend and he only plays a minor role. With Branagh behind the film, I’m definitely looking forward to more news.

Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) is Thor, Anthony Hopkins is his father Odin and Natalie Portman is Jane Foster, who in the comics is nurse to Thor’s human alter-ego Donald Blake. Tom Hiddleston is the villanous Loki, Jaimie Alexander is the Asgardian warrior Sif, and Colm Feore is a villain whose identity is being kept secret. Stellan Skarsgard is in the cast as well.

Plot: The movie’s story sees the god of thunder Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions re-ignite an ancient war. As punishment, Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans. Once here, he learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends dark forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

Thor was just pushed up for a May 6th, 2011 release.

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