Thor: Ragnarok's New Characters Explained
The first trailer for Thor: Ragnarok is currently tearing up the Internet, giving us a bold new [...]
The first trailer for Thor: Ragnarok is currently tearing up the Internet, giving us a bold new look at the Marvel Cosmic Universe and its inhabitants, thanks to director Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople).
More so than most Marvel Cinematic Universe sequels (or threequels), Thor: Ragnarok has a bunch of new characters that it will introduce - many of whom would have a larger destiny to come in the MCU (as opposed to being one-offs).
Here is Every New Character in the Thor Ragnarok trailer.
Hela
In Marvel Comics, Hela (Cate Blanchett) is the Asagardian goddess of Death, ruler of the underworld realms of Hel and Nifleheim.
We don't know many concrete details about Hela's MCU adaptation, except that she (clearly) still has powers related to the underworld, and has, as Blanchett recently said, "been locked away for millennia getting more and more cross, and then, with a mistake, she gets unleashed and she ain't getting back in that box."
prevnextSkurge
Karl Urban's Skurge is Hela's enforcer. We don't know much about the MCU version - such as whether he works for Hela voluntarily, or is (as in the comics) under thrall, with no will of his own (until he's inevitably freed). In any event, Skurge is a warrior from the Norse tradition of berserkers, and his prowess with an axe has earned him the nickname "The Executioner."
In this scene from the trailer he's far less graceful, weilding to big machine guns (as they tend to do in cosmic battles, you know?).
prevnextValkyrie
After all the controversy surrounding this character and casting, it seems we'll get an interesting take on actress Tessa Thompson's version of Marvel Comics' Valkyrie, and the larger mythos she fits into.
The Thor: Ragnarok trailer seemingly establishes a history in which the Valkyrior of Asgard (a squad of warrior goddesses on winged horses) rode into battle against Hela, and fell as a result. From what we can tell, Thompson's Valkyrie is presumably one of the last in the MCU, and is in service (coerced or otherwise) to Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster.
prevnextThe Grandmaster
In the Comics, The Grandmaster (En Dwi Gast) is an Elder of the Universe, and the brother of The Collector.
Here's how Jeff Goldblum described the MCU version of The Grandmaster we'll meet in Thor: Ragnarok:
"He's a hedonist, a pleasure-seeker, an enjoyer of life and tastes and smells. I thought, ' can do that, I'll bet!' ... [Taika Waititi] is encouraging me to improvise and make it my own, and that's what I'm trying to do."
prevnextGladiator Hulk
Okay, you got us! It's not a new character, per se - but it is a pretty novel way to re-meet an old favorite.
The Hulk has been MIA after running off in a Quinjet during the climatic events of Avengers: Age of Ultron; how he gets into The Grandmaster's game is a big question that Thor: Ragnarok needs to answer.
Based on the "Planet Hulk" comic book storyline, we'll be getting "Gladiator Hulk," complete with his iconic armor and weaponry.
MORE: Gladiator Hulk Explained
prevnextFire Demons?
We don't know for sure where the ominous opening to the Thor: Ragnarok trailer is set - but we do catch glimpse of some Gremlins-style creatures lurking in the dark, as Thor is lowered into a fiery underworld.
Thor: Ragnarok has long been expected to follow the comic book storyline of the same name by introducing the villain Surtur and his fire demons - so could this be our very first look at them?
It's far from a guarantee: this could easily be Hela's realm, Hel, which is different than the realm of the Fire Demons, Muspelheim. Hel is basically a Norse/Asgardian version of Hell, and those creatures could be damned souls confined to the realm.
We'll have to see more from Thor: Ragnarok before we'll know for sure.
prevnextMore Thor
In Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok – the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization – at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first, he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger – the Incredible Hulk!
Thor: Ragnarok is directed by Taika Waititi with a screenplay by Eric Pearson. The film stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Loki. They are joined by Cate Blanchett (Hela), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Jeff Goldblum (Grandmaster), Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie), Karl Urban (Skurge), Anthony Hopkins (Odin), Sam Neill, Ray Stevenson (Volstagg), Tadanobu Asano (Hogun), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk), and Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Stephen Strange).
Next up for Marvel is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on May 5, 2017. Spider-Man: Homecoming lands on July 7, 2017, followed by Thor: Ragnarok on November 3, 2017. After that Black Panther debuts on February 16, 2018, while Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters on May 4, 2018. Ant-Man and the Wasp is slated for July 6, 2018, followed by Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019.
How excited are you for Thor: Ragnarok? The film is currently at an impressive 4.11/5 in our Anticipation rankings - rate YOUR excitement, below!
MORE THOR:
- New Poster
- Trailer Easter Egg Revealed
- New Images of Hela
- Ragnarok Official Trailer
- Fate of Thor's Hammer Revealed
- First Look at Gladiator Hulk