Thor: The Dark World Will Not Feature Viggo Mortensen

Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen will not appear in Thor: The Dark World, contrary to reports that he would portray Dr. Stephen Strange in the film, according to a new interview with Marvel Studios producer Victoria Alonso. "We would love to work with Viggo Mortensen," Alonso is quoted as saying by Ace Showbiz. "I've been trying that for years. But I don't know if Viggo is even acting anymore. I thought he wasn't acting anymore. It would be great to work with him in the future, but we don't have him signed, no." As far as the substance of the rumors--that Mortensen has been approached to play Dr. Strange, and that Strange would appear in Thor: The Dark World--nothing is actually denied here, of course. While it's likely a denial of the rumor lock, stock and barrel, there's a chance that Alonso is hoping to throw fans and reporters off the scent by saying something that sounds like a denial but is technically not. After all, the only thing she's actually said is that he's not signed onto the project. That could mean that another actor is signed, or even that they've approached Mortensen and haven't yet come to terms. Thor: The Dark World is currently shooting in the United Kingdom. It stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Chris Eccleston, Jaimie Alexander and Renee Russo, and is one of Marvel Universe's "Phase Two" films, following up the success of their first round of movies, which ended with Marvel's The Avengers earlier this year.