Amid promo duties for Bullet to the Head, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje furthermore discussed his dual role in Marvel's Alan Taylor-directed ‘Phase Two’ entry, Thor: The Dark World. Speaking with ComicBook.com, the English actor dished on the fate of his Algrim/Kurse character, while recalling filming scenes on-location and opposite the sequel's high-profile cast members.
“I can recall...I’m in the scene and Renee Russo is in my arms or beside me and I’m facing Anthony Hopkins and Chris Hemsworth and Chris Eccleston–and just about every great actor within that genre is in the room and you just realize it’s a great privilege and honor. To be opposite Anthony Hopkins and to watch him work is just…amazing. And you’re right–Marvel has really pushed the bar with regard to tentpole movies and the caliber of actors that they put inside of them. I think that’s one of the most enjoyable aspects of these movies. From Iron Man, what Robert Downey was able to do with the Iron Man character and particularly Thor, which is more thespian-oriented, right from the onset of Kenneth Branagh directing it. You’ll find that even more so–you know, Tom Hiddleston did an amazing job with Loki. These are stand-out performances and classic, classy actors.”
Beyond playing two Dark World personalities, Algrim the Strong who later becomes Kurse, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje enjoys having a balance between superhero movies and projects more grounded in reality.
“Ultimately, when you get in front of the camera, it comes down to the same thing. I mean, yes you will have spectacular outfits on, and maybe ingenious prosthetics but when you do look into the eyes of the other characters, be they aliens or superheroes, you are going to be relating to them as an actor. So the job is the same, the process may be different, and it is a bit surreal. You know, we were out in Iceland on these black volcanic mountains [for Thor: The Dark World], and it’s spectacular, and then you’re in Brooklyn, in the ghetto, and those are distinctly different. And you enjoy both of them–I enjoy both of them–but yeah, there is an adjustment. The thing about doing a Mister and Pete, or even a Bullet to the Head is it’s grounding.”
Despite Marvel's casting process usually involving the actor signing a mult-picture deal, Akinnuoye-Agbaje played coy when ComicBook.com asked whether that was the case for him.
“I think it all depends on the character. You never know what will become of what character–nobody ever really dies. I think that’s all I can really say; it depends on the character you’re playing. I think my answer to that is that I’m just happy to be in business with Marvel and looking forward to continuing the relationship.”
One of many things Akinnuoye-Agbaje enjoyed most about working on Thor: The Dark World was director Alan Taylor's approach: using practical photography versus a green screen.
“I think that’s the most exciting part about it–the fact that you’re going to be rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty. As an actor, that’s what turns you on. That’s what we did, is put on those costumes and we went for it, toe to toe, pound for pound, including those choreographed fights. It wasn’t blue or green screen–they obviously need a certain amount of that but there was a lot of stuff that we–that I certainly did. I pretty much did everything myself. Obviously the dangerous stunts were done by stuntmen but I enjoyed the process of choreographing the fights; that was fun.” For Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje's full interview, where he comments on his Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete co-star Anthony Mackie and more about Thor: The Dark World, head over to ComicBook.com.
Marvel Studios’ “Thor: The Dark World” continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s “Thor” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo & Anthony Hopkins as Odin, “Thor: The Dark World” is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, from a story by Don Payne (credit not final) and screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (credit not final) and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery” #83 in August, 1962. “Thor: The Dark World” is presented by Marvel Studios. The executive producers are Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Victoria Alonso, Craig Kyle and Nigel Gostelow. The film releases November 8, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios.