More From Anthony Hopkins On Thor!

More From Anthony Hopkins On Thor!

The actor talks about his beard, the movies lack of Shakespearean dialogue and working with Hemsworth and Hiddleston...

By JoshWilding - Feb 09, 2010 10:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Thor
Source: MTV Splash Page



"It’s for Thor," Hopkins said when asked about his beard. "It has a great director in Kenneth Branagh. So, I’m lucky. In the past year I’ve worked with filmmakers Joe Johnston, Woody Allen and Ken Branagh."

"I knew nothing of it, he said when asked about his knowledge of the characters, "It’s a surprise to be in these sort of movies."

"It’s a superhero movie, but with a bit of Shakespeare thrown in," revealed Hopkins, who plays Odin in the movie. "It’s a big, big broad thing. This is a bit of a Shakespeare movie as well, on a big scope." However, when asked whether the film will feature and Shakespearean "Thou" and "Thee"'s, he said, "No, not in this. It’s all modern language."

As for working with actors like Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston he said, "Oh, I love working with young actors. I don’t have to do much work. I let them do all the work. I let them act, and then I just stand back."
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spanky
spanky - 2/9/2010, 10:51 AM
by odin grey beard!
thwip
thwip - 2/9/2010, 10:53 AM
i thought one of the main reasons they got branaugh on this project was BECAUSE of the classical dialogue?
BubbaDude
BubbaDude - 2/9/2010, 10:55 AM
How cool is this guy?

I want to go monster hunting with him
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 2/9/2010, 10:56 AM
COOL! EXCELLENT! No King James/ Shakespearean talk!


Exacly what I wanted and exactly what I expected! SWEET!!
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 2/9/2010, 11:12 AM
lmao!

Hopkins is so t3h m4n!
HannibalSmith
HannibalSmith - 2/9/2010, 11:14 AM
multi@ LOL

Too bad about the dialogue. I wanted classical.
McLovin
McLovin - 2/9/2010, 11:17 AM
I'm with you Hannibal. I didn't necessarily want it to bee to heavy on the classical, but to not have Thor sya his classic line like "Have at Thee" and "I say thee NAY!" is indeed disappointing. Well, every other news we've received about this movie has been nothing short of awesome, so if this is the only bad news, I can live with it. Still can't wait for the pics to start surfacing.
InFamouslyCool
InFamouslyCool - 2/9/2010, 11:22 AM
..i wanna hear the "thee's" and "thy's". movies should be made the right way, and not changed unnecessarily.
Superheromoviefan
Superheromoviefan - 2/9/2010, 11:28 AM
I love the beard.
I can't wait.
Also finally someone who doesn't say "I'm big fan" and sh1t like that.
I think we are going to see a great Odin.
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 2/9/2010, 11:33 AM
You can definitely see him as Odin when he is sportin' the beard.

I think for mainstream viewers and even comic book fans, too many "Thee's" and "Thou's" would be a turn off. You either have to incorporate them completely or not at all. A whole movie with that type of language usage would not be welcoming and you can't throw them in here and there, as that would be even less realistic due to inconsistent use of the language. I completely understand why they are leaving it out and it doesn't bother me a bit when I think about it that way.
Superheromoviefan
Superheromoviefan - 2/9/2010, 11:41 AM
@Ranger14 - I agree.
EpicMan
EpicMan - 2/9/2010, 12:03 PM
Great Odin's Beard!!!
jusme6
jusme6 - 2/9/2010, 12:12 PM
Does this look like Santa Claus?

Photobucket
No need to worry.

I'm also a little bumbed about there being no "these" "thous" and "thines"
peterparker420
peterparker420 - 2/9/2010, 12:13 PM
THOU LOVE'S THEE BEARD!

He dosen't NEED to KNOW the characters, His acting
is BEYOND research!
jusme6
jusme6 - 2/9/2010, 12:18 PM
@Parker: Lol! He said it all true. He likes being with the new guys cause they all have to prove themselves and he's like, "Whatever, I don't even need to read the script to look awesome. I'll stand here and do nothing." I just wanna see him give Thor an angry disappointed look... oh no! getting too excited!

Photobucket

dam it!
JohnClayBurchett
JohnClayBurchett - 2/9/2010, 12:33 PM
Sucks they're completely eliminating the Shakespearean dialogue. I was looking forward to that. When I read Thor or any runs that involve him or Balder or The Warriors Three, especially when they interact with regular people...the way they talk is a great contrast...and adds almost a bit of humor......but as I type this, I realize that most of this movie may take place on Asgard...and when they're conversing with each other....it may get bothersome for an entire movie....so I'm on the fence. We'll see. I'm worried about this film.
Layperson
Layperson - 2/9/2010, 12:37 PM
Odin Lives!!
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 2/9/2010, 12:40 PM
I'm glad that they'll be using the modern dialogue as seen in the recent JMS run on Thor - the "Thee" and "Thou" stuff is annoying to read, never mind listen to! :)
BubbaDude
BubbaDude - 2/9/2010, 12:45 PM
No Shakeaspearian dialog?!?!?!?!


I SAY THEE NAY!
Makiveli21
Makiveli21 - 2/9/2010, 1:00 PM
theres DEFINITLY some "thou's" and "thee's" in this movie! he probably just hasnt read the entire script yet. DEFINITLY a "HAVE AT THEE!"
ASSASSIN666
ASSASSIN666 - 2/9/2010, 1:27 PM
Goddammit, half the reason to love Thor is because of the language. I really f**king hated watching that interview just now, what a letdown
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 2/9/2010, 1:37 PM
Yeah, I dont see the harm in the occasional bit of Shakespearean dialogue - as long as its not every other word!

MULTI: Lol, its funny you should say that because after seeing thsi interview and the one you recently posted I was thinking the same thing!

Still, even if he doesnt care about the characters, he's still an amazing actor so he'll more than likely do an amazing job! :)
LuckyKyd
LuckyKyd - 2/9/2010, 1:45 PM
@Makiveli & @Multi: Hopkins doesn't read at all, he stares at Kenneth Branagh untill he has telepathically resolved what his lines are for the film.
But seriously I have no doubt there will be at least just one "thou" or "thee" in the movie. I mean come on, Branagh is doing it, if the movie lacks it, it is because some guy at Marvel(I will not mention any names) is pulling the strings and I pretty much doubt it!
thatiscrazy
thatiscrazy - 2/9/2010, 2:07 PM
This movie will be awsome, launguage or not! Ranger14 said it best -- "too many "Thee's" and "Thou's" would be a turn off. You either have to incorporate them completely or not at all."
Betty
Betty - 2/9/2010, 2:24 PM
Did he say he hadn't heard of Wolfman either? Who hasn't heard of Wolfman?
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 2/9/2010, 2:27 PM
Well, people complain about Sam Worthington's inability to maintain a straight English dialect throughout a movie. Why would it be any different in this movie if they use predominantly English dialect and throw in an occasional "Thee" and "Thou". To me, that is pretty much the same and creates just as much loss of authenticity as it does not having it at all. I can see in some intense scenes, Thor letting loose with his a couple of his classic short lines and that is alright.

We all have our varying opinions and that is what is great about discussing these things. Regardless, I think this movie will rock!
Diamond1995
Diamond1995 - 2/9/2010, 2:29 PM
No shakesperean dialogue....YES THIS MOVIE JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER! :)
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 2/9/2010, 2:54 PM
It is Santa Clause lol! : P
RandmHero
RandmHero - 2/9/2010, 3:50 PM
Hopkins=Odin/Santa
awesome, no Shakespeare talk....i couldn't understand a damn thing they said in Romeo+Juliet....yes, i've watched it....and like it
ASSASSIN666
ASSASSIN666 - 2/9/2010, 5:37 PM
I think many of you are missing the f**king point. Thor was written and envisioned to be a very specific way, why f**k with it. There seems to be a huge problem in America with today's youth not wanting to read, or not knowing how to read. I feel for people who can't understand the dialogue, it makes me want to slap an education right upside their f**king head.
RedDevil
RedDevil - 2/9/2010, 6:11 PM
Nay at thy modern language. Makes thee drink more mead!
Poor Thor needs to read mortal language.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 2/9/2010, 6:51 PM
I think the reason they probably dispensed with the Shakespearean language because it doesn't really make sense that these ancient otherworldly being would speak a dialect they probably wouldn't have had the chance to hear.

Assassin makes a good point. But there are a large number of even well educated people that might still struggle with following a language with which they are unfamiliar, which could amount to a strike against the film at the BO.
To a certain degree it's understandable that they wouldn't want to confound or anger audiences with language that would be difficult to for the average person to follow.

You know if they had went the other way and kept with the ren fest speak you used to hear in Marvel comics I wouldn't have minded. But I feel like I understand.

This was a shrewd, strategic choice and probably a difficult one considering the director's background but ultimately it was probably a smart move.
DDD
DDD - 2/9/2010, 6:56 PM
At least a couple "I SAY THEE NAY!" and "HAVE AT THEE!"
would have been nice but I like the modern English
better! It will ground it more in reality, make it
more credible!

I'm just so excited for this movie I could just
defecate right in my dungarees! lol
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 2/9/2010, 8:26 PM
Keep in mind, the majority of the movie goers aren't going to be comic book Thor fanatics who want everything true to the source. Filmmakers need to keep that in mind. I respect their decision in doings so. I would imagine Thor will get a few of the lines out in the source context. I am far from today's youth, as I was reading Norse mythology and Thor comics probably before many of you were born. ;-)
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