Anthony Hopkins Explains the Charm of Odin!

Anthony Hopkins Explains the  Charm of Odin!

The all-father Odin, Anthony Hopkins, speaks to LA Times about the ruthless charm of his character. Check It Out!

By DCMarvelFreshman - Feb 16, 2010 08:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Thor
Source: LA Times

Sir Anthony Hopkins recently spoke to the L.A. Times about the charm of his Thor character, Odin:

"I don't just play a father, a play the god-father." Hopkins said he is enthused about working with the cast that is led by Chris Hemsworth (who played the doomed father of James T. Kirk in "Star Trek") as the Thunder God and Natalie Portman as his mortal love, Jane Foster.


"I'm very interested in that relationship between fathers and sons," Hopkins said. "My father's relationship with me was cold. He was a hot-blood character but to me, cold. When I was young, he expressed his disappointment because I was bad in school and all of that. He didn't mean any harm, but I felt I could never meet up to his expectations."


He said he has high hopes for "Thor" ("Kenneth Branagh is such a terrific director and a wonderful guy to work with.") especially because he finds a personal resonance in the Odin role.

"He's a stern man. He's a man with purpose. I play the god who banishes his son from the kingdom of Asgard because he screwed up. He's a hot-headed, temperamental young man --- probably a chip off of the old block -- but I decide he's not really ready to rule the future kingdom, so I banish him. I'm harsh and my wife complains and I say, 'That is why I'm king.' He's ruthless, take-it-or-leave-it. Women are much more forgiving; men are not so forgiving. I know in my life, my karma is, 'If you don't like it, tough, move on.' And I move on. I'm a little like Odin myself."

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Shaman
Shaman - 2/16/2010, 8:59 AM
It's all in the beard.
longbowhunter
longbowhunter - 2/16/2010, 9:03 AM
Hopkins really is a teriffic choice for Odin. He is gonna own this role!
InFamouslyCool
InFamouslyCool - 2/16/2010, 9:05 AM
i'd like to see zeus wedgy odin.

off topic: that percy jackson lightning thief kid will make a great peter parker. after seeing the movie i think he's really good.
StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 2/16/2010, 9:10 AM
JUST SHOW US AN IMAGE NOW MARVEL, TOSS A BONE PLEASE!!!!
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 2/16/2010, 9:11 AM
Brilliant - Hopkins was an amazing choice to play Odin! Thor banished to Earth? Man, this promises to be an EPIC!!! :)

Guys, check out my VENOM/CARNAGE Fan Cast! Just click the link!!! :)
Shaman
Shaman - 2/16/2010, 9:18 AM
I'm all for Hopkins but Brian Blessed would have been better by far IMO. It would have been a match made in valhalla.
CyberViking2000
CyberViking2000 - 2/16/2010, 9:28 AM
Brian Blessed would have been the wrong choice.
ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 2/16/2010, 9:38 AM
tea - the more I look at that image the funnier it gets!

Hopkins is a fine choice and I'm looking forward to seeing what he brings to the screen. He level of acting will make it simple for him to pull off the role, however, big bearded Brian IS Odin, there is no need for acting on any level there!
Shaman
Shaman - 2/16/2010, 9:41 AM
Too true, Ron! Brian EXUDES Odin while Hopkins will have to act the part. No doubt he'll be brilliant but there is no besting Blessed.
McLovin
McLovin - 2/16/2010, 9:44 AM
LMFAO!!!!!!!!!! Ron - I second that. That has got to be one of the funniest pics ever put on this site! Good job Tea (wiping tear of eye). As far as Hopkins goes, he is going to kick ass in this film. Not only does the shear fact that he is even in it, automatically make this a better movie, but the fact that he really seems to enjoy and understand the character he is playing makes me think he will knock it out of the park!!!! I can't wait for this movie to come out!!!!
CaptainAmerica
CaptainAmerica - 2/16/2010, 9:44 AM
Brian Blessed would have been the wrong choice.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 2/16/2010, 9:48 AM
Brian Blessed would have been the BEST choice!

: p

I like HOPKINS but all we're gonna see is = BEOWULF!!!

Heck hopefully he'll pull it off, THOR's gonna be huge!!
ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 2/16/2010, 10:00 AM
tea - I think I've seen that movie. Wasn't it "Thor: Battle for Arse-guard"
10THTIGER
10THTIGER - 2/16/2010, 10:01 AM
BY HEIMDALL'S HAIRY HIND QUARTERS THIS MOVIE IS GONNA BE EPIC BRANNAGH (UNLIKE SOME DIRECTORS) "GETS IT" HE UNDERSTANDS THE CHARACTER LIKE FAVREU. IM STILL A LIL WORRIED BOUT CAPTAIN AMERICA AND ITS NOT CUZ OF THE STORY LINE, I JUST HOPE HE DOESNT LOOK RICKY DICULOUS IN THE SUIT
OdinsBeard
OdinsBeard - 2/16/2010, 10:05 AM
Hopkins as Odin - best marvel casting decision so far - by a mile. this is going to be awesome.
jusme6
jusme6 - 2/16/2010, 10:09 AM
About the Brian Blessed vs. Anthony Hopkins:
Hopkins will definitely put more asses in the seats. It also helps the brand name Marvel movies look like they take their movies seriously. In my opinion that was the major difference between the cast of Hulk and TIH. Both casts had great actors, but at the time of Hulk, most of their cast was not very well known. Ironically, Hulk did better than TIH. I think it was because reboots in general have a lot of marks against them before they even hit the theater.

@Teebag: Lol! Oh now I know what makes Walt special! He grows up to be the black power ranger! That picture is hysterically random!
LostJacob
LostJacob - 2/16/2010, 10:14 AM
Brian Blessed would have been the wrong choice.
Shaman
Shaman - 2/16/2010, 10:33 AM
I understand that Hopkins would put more butts in the seats but characteristics wise, can any one of you "Brian Blessed would have been the wrong choice" guys EXPLAIN WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!
Sigmax
Sigmax - 2/16/2010, 10:37 AM
Not saying that Blessed would have been the wrong choice, but with Hopkins, we have an actor that knows and understands how to become a character. Sometimes that can better than someone who just looks like the character. Its not always a look that makes the character. Having an actor who can, for 2 hours, convince you that you are actually watching Odin on screen (and not see him as the actor playing the character) brings so much more merit.
ManhuntersBastardChild
ManhuntersBastardChild - 2/16/2010, 10:48 AM
Oooo...Brian Blessed would have been a grand choice a la that role he played in the old flash gordon movie. That being the case, Anthony Hopkins does not chopped liver make.

It's like asking for the best pornstar for a scene, and then throwing a fit because they sent you Tera Patrick instead of Jenna Jameson.

be reasonable, people!
Sigmax
Sigmax - 2/16/2010, 10:57 AM
Let me try and explain my comment a little further by giving an example.
In the movie "The Dark Knight", I watched the Joker for 2 hours. Ledger had me convinced that he was the Joker. For those same 2 hours, I watched Bale play the role of Batman.
Ledger was being the Joker, while Bale was acting as Batman.
Shaman
Shaman - 2/16/2010, 11:01 AM
Sigmax- Great explanation! Even better comparission!!! I like your point of view :)

Tea- Yeah, ignorance isn't always bliss :(
DogsOfWar
DogsOfWar - 2/16/2010, 11:06 AM
Blessed would have been great in this. Hopkins will own this role when its all said and done, imo.

I'd like to hear some interviews from Hemsworth
superdog
superdog - 2/16/2010, 11:07 AM
depends on what your ignorant of. like tea being ignorant of his true sexuality, that is not bilss for him :0
Shaman
Shaman - 2/16/2010, 11:12 AM
I think we're all ignorant of Tea's sexuality ;P
BillyBlack
BillyBlack - 2/16/2010, 11:13 AM
I actually prefer Tera Patrick.
optimus
optimus - 2/16/2010, 11:21 AM
Odin (anthony hopskins) versus Zeus (liam neeson)
who wins?
jjmeylar
jjmeylar - 2/16/2010, 11:23 AM
I have been excited about him playing Odin, ever since he got the part. I'm still just as excited. I think that he is perfect, and he seems to grasp the true aspects of the character.
superdog
superdog - 2/16/2010, 11:24 AM
jesus wins
Sigmax
Sigmax - 2/16/2010, 11:27 AM
Shaman - Thanks, I spent quite a few years on stage and few indi films, so I know one or two things lol.
Shaman
Shaman - 2/16/2010, 11:35 AM
Sigmax- Glad to hear experienced actors that agree in saying that Bale merely did his "job" while Ledger breathed life into the character.

optimus- Odin, hands down! LOL

DannyRand401- Well Hopkins would definitely be the best choice for Odin's celtic mysticism view but in regards to Marvel's Odin, i feel Brian has the perfect presence and range.
Sigmax
Sigmax - 2/16/2010, 11:43 AM
Shaman - I think Bale is close, but good actors just "Are', other actors "Try to be". Bale is trying to hard sometimes (example The Voice).
As for Hopkins, I think he has the art of "Being" pretty much down pat. Not saying Blessed doesn't or isn't a good actor, but I know when Hopkins is in a film, usually I don't see him on the screen, I see the character.
Shaman
Shaman - 2/16/2010, 11:52 AM
Sigmax- That is very true! Hopkins does have that quality. I remember being mezmerized at watching him ACTUALLY be Zorro! That opening was awesome even if he was getting too old for the mask. He is a fountain of talent!
Sigmax
Sigmax - 2/16/2010, 11:56 AM
Shaman - I would not have used that example, my first example would have been Silence of the Lambs
(btw my main wow toon is a Shaman lol)
peterparker420
peterparker420 - 2/16/2010, 12:11 PM
HOPKINS IS THE MAN!..NUFF SAID
superdog
superdog - 2/16/2010, 12:19 PM
why are we all in bold
Shaman
Shaman - 2/16/2010, 12:32 PM
Sigmax- LOL Yeah i know but my example was a CBM that had an old guy be Zorro. That is a monumental feat of Hopkins to deliver and he did brilliantly IMO ;)

btw, what's a "main wow toon"???

superdog- Brian Blessed speaks in bold even in his sleep LOL ;P
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 2/16/2010, 12:33 PM
Brian Blessed looks the part far more than Hopkins, but that is the only advantage. I agree with jusme6 and sigmax. Hopkins is going to be more of a draw and he has the ability to pull off a believable Odin much more than Blessed would be able to, based on acting credentials alone. The Joker and Batman comparison is a great one to use. I feel Hopkins can "be" the role as opposed to acting the role. I just don't think that Blessed is as polished of a character actor as Hopkins is. That is why we don't see him in lead roles in major films. It's no good to have someone who looks the part, but can't play the part to the level that Hopkins can.
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