Branagh in talks to direct 'Thor' (VAR)
By Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte
Kenneth Branagh is in talks to direct �Thor,� the next Marvel Comics property to be made into a live-action film by Marvel Studios, reports Variety. The film is set for a 2010 release with a distributor to be announced shortly. Branagh may seem like an out-of-left-field choice but the multi-hyphenate is currently enjoying what the Guardian last week called his great comeback.
Although Branagh hasn't really directed an action-heavy film since "Henry V," he is the latest in a string of directors with art-house roots to take on big-budget comic book fare, Variety points out. The others include Jon Favreau with "Iron Man," Christopher Nolan with the Batman films and Gavin Hood with "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."
Branagh is currently receiving raves in London for his title turn in "Ivanov." He has upcoming roles in "The Boat That Rocked" and "Valkyrie."
Marvel is self-financing �Thor� via its $500 million credit facility through Merrill Lynch.
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