Idris Elba Praises ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Director; Calls Thor 1 and 2 “Work”

Idris Elba returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Heimdall when Thor: Ragnarok opens in theaters next month but it sounds like the actor hasn’t always enjoyed being the Asgardian Gatekeeper.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly Elba reveals that while he loves that he’s had a small part in the Thor films because it’s allowed him to work on other projects while still being part of the Marvel famil, Thor: Ragnarok is the first time the actor has had fun in the process. The previous two films were “work” for the Elba.

“The last one [Ragnarok] was fun,” he said. “The others weren’t fun. They’re work. But on this one, Taika [Waititi, the film’s director] was great.”

One of the criticism of the previous Thor installments is that the films have been boring and a little dreary and Elba’s comment that both Thor and Thor: The Dark World felt like “work” to him seems to fall in that same vein. However, if the colorful character posters and bright, even funny moments in trailers and footage is any indication Waititi has avoided those pitfalls in Ragnarok.

And Elba’s praise for Waititi doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s just the latest for the director when it comes to his work on Thor: Ragnarok. Cate Blanchett, who plays the film’s villain, Hela, also had nothing but good things to say about both Waititi and the environment he creates during a visit to the film’s set earlier this year.

“And you’re in such safe hands with Taika tonally, you know, having seen all his other films is that, you know, 3/4 of it may get chucked out,” she said. “But you’ve got to chuck it out there in order to find that little gem, you know? That’s what play is, you know? And sometimes, on some sets you can feel that’s not really possible.”

Thor: Ragnarok currently has a 4.19 out of 5 ComicBook.com User Anticipation Rating, making it the second most anticipated upcoming comic book movie among ComicBook.com Users. Let us know how excited you are about Thor: Ragnarok by giving the movie your own personal ComicBook.com User Anticipation Rating below.

Thor: Ragnarok opens in theaters on November 2, 2017.