RUSSELL CROWE Says Cameo Role in MCU’s “THOR: GOD AND THUNDER” is as Greek God ZEUS

 

From his first appearance in his self-titled 2011 film to his most recent adventure in the 2019 superhero epic “Avengers: Endgame,” the Asgardian God of Thunder “Thor” as portrayed in the MCU by Chris Hemsworth has been through quite a lot. It might explain just why his love interest Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) goes and takes up the mantle and name of Thor for “Thor: Love and Thunder,” just a her original comic-book version did for a few years of published issues. Casting beyond the primary characters has been scarce, but one recent announcement hints that the Norse-based gods of destroyed Asgard may be brushing elbows with their Greek counterparts.

As Entertainment Weekly tell us, an earlier casting news regarding Australian actor Russell Crowe joining Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Love and Thunder” just went into more detail this past Thursday. Out of Crowe’s own mouth, he will be portraying the Greek god Zeus, the first non-Norse deity to show up in the “Thor” films. The actor (“Gladiator”) shared this tidbit on a radio show in Australia this April 22. Towards the end of his interview he says, "Now, I'm gonna get on my bicycle, I'm gonna ride up to Disney-Fox studios...And round about 9:15, I shall be Zeus in ‘Thor 4.’"

The earliest news bout Crowe being part of the “Love and Thunder” cast was from this March, and even then his involvement has been described at most as a “fun cameo” according to Deadline. With regards to Zeus as characterized in Marvel Comics he is, like his mythological source, King of the gods of Olympus, which are occasional rivals and sometimes allies to the gods of Asgard led by Odin (and later Thor himself). It is likely the latter state comes to play considering who the big bad will be.

“Thor: Love and Thunder” brings back director Taika Waititi from “Thor: Ragnarok,” as well as primary cast Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, whose character will share the Thor identity after the latter gains the former’s powers. Also returning from “Ragnarok” are Tessa Thompson and Jeff Goldblum, and most of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” cast (Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, etc.) and Jaimie Alexander as Sif, last seen in “Thor: The Dark World.” Christian Bale is cast as the antagonist, Gorr the God Butcher. The film will premiere on May 2022. Neither Disney nor Marvel Studios has commented on Russell Crowe’s assertion that he plays Zeus.

Image courtesy of JoBlo.com