THOR: THE DARK WORLD Star Christopher Eccleston Changes Tune About MCU And Is Now Open To Returning

Christopher Eccleston played Malekith in Thor: The Dark World, and he hasn't shied away from criticising his time in the MCU in the years that have followed. Now, he's willing to return...on one condition!

By JoshWilding - Oct 07, 2019 01:10 AM EST

Filed Under: Thor: The Dark World

In the past, Christopher Eccleston has been highly critical of his role as Malekith in Thor: The Dark World and it was back in March that he compared his experience working on the movie as "a gun in your mouth." However, he's also said that "there was more to be said and done with [Malekith]," so it does seem as if his biggest issue was the makeup he was forced to endure.

Now, though, the Doctor Who star appears to have had a complete change of heart!

While it's previously sounded like the door was closed on him ever really wanting to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he's now seemingly changed his mind. "I was in makeup for six, seven hours every day," he revealed at New York Comic-Con. "They didn’t tell me that up front, so I wasn’t pleased about that... There was a lack of humor in the film, I felt… so shall we move on?"

"I understand that some people love that particular film, and some of you actually like Malekith the naughty elf, so that’s only my experience within it," the actor continued. "But I know that people love the film and I accept that and I’m careful about it. I’m so diplomatic these days!"

Adding that he thought Thor: Ragnarok was "brilliantly written," he revealed that he would now return to the MCU as the character "If it was the guy[s] who wrote the third… I’ll do that."

It's possible that Eccleston is aware that Malekith plays a huge role in The Mighty Thor's story, and has decided that badmouthing Marvel Studios might not be the smartest move with Thor: Love and Thunder around the corner. Kevin Feige could choose to bring him back, and with CGI now better than ever, the actor could avoid that makeup altogether!

Hit the "View List" button for a reminder of everything
we know so far about the next Thor movie!

Why Is It Called "Love And Thunder"?

It seems Marvel Studios is embracing some original subtitles for Phase 4 and Love and Thunder is definitely an interesting choice! When Waititi was asked for an explanation, both he and Hemsworth responded with, "There's nothing more powerful in the world than love and thunder."

Assuming the plan is to delve into both Thor and Valkyrie's love lives (more on that later), this title actually makes more sense than you might think. That logo is also every bit as unique as Ragnarok's.

Will Korg Return?

Korg and Miek made an unexpected cameo appearance in one of Avengers: Endgame's funniest scenes, but will they have a role to play in Love and Thunder? "Who knows?" was all the filmmaker would say, clearly unwilling to give away even the most minor of details about Marvel's first..."fourquel"?

The Script May Already Be Complete

When Hemsworth and Thomspon were asked for details on the story and where we find the God of Thunder after everything he went through in Avengers: Endgame, neither of them could say.

That's not just a case of them being sworn to secrecy, either, because as Waititi puts it, "They haven't read the script." Does that imply the screenplay is already finished? It's certainly a possibility, and with Hemsworth wanting to take the rest of 2019 off, that late 2021 release date makes a lot of sense.

Valkyrie Is The MCU's First Openly Gay Superhero

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has said that an openly gay superhero is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and we now know who that is. During the panel, Thompson was asked what Valkyrie will be doing as the new King of Asgard, and, well, she wants to find herself a Queen!

"I think, first of all as new King, she needs to find her Queen. That would be her first order of business. She has some ideas." Captain Marvel is one very popular suggestion, of course, and it will be interesting to find out who Marvel and Waititi plucks from the comic books for her to start dating.

As for what the future holds in store for New Asgard, she reiterated that it's the people who make it, and said for Valkyrie, "The cool thing is to create refuge for any person who needs it."

The New Thor

The biggest bombshell dropped at the panel came when Waititi announced which comic book run Love and Thunder will be based on. "When we were shooting Ragnarok, I was reading one storyline by Jason Aaron called 'The Mighty Thor.' For those of you who know that storyline it's incredible and full of love and emotion and thunder. It introduces, for the first time, a female Thor."

The director then called Portman out to the stage as she gets set to make her MCU return after a six year absence (the last time we saw Jane Foster was in Thor: The Dark World).

Jane Foster Lifts The Hammer

Waititi presented the actress with Mjolnir, to which she responded, "Feels pretty good. I always had a little hammer envy."

We still don't know how Mjolnir returns or what leads to Jane taking on the Thor mantle, but this is definitely a game-changer for the MCU and could bring Hemsworth's tenure as the character to a close. The question is, will Portman stick around for future Marvel films?

Well, things have certainly changed since 2013, and assuming she can continue playing a strong, female superhero, it's safe to assume that we could see her make the leap to The Avengers.

Continue reading below to check out the
logos for Marvel Studios' entire Phase 4 slate!

During the panel, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that every movie released up until now is part of "The Infinity Saga." Here, we see the brand new logo for those first three phases.

This is a fairly simple logo but one which may match the tone. Kevin Feige said it will be 100% Jack Kirby-inspired so it's a little surprising that there's not more evidence of that in this title.

Sadly, we'll never get to see Iron Man battle the real Mandarin but he will be the lead villain of this movie. In case the title didn't make it clear, that logo emphasises those ten (magic?) rings too.

The Doctor Strange logo has received something of an overhaul but it's interesting to see how the subtitle is even bigger. Scarlet Witch will appear in the sequel so the red may be a homage to her.

Just like Thor: Ragnarok had a very unique logo, so too does Thor: Love and Thunder. That's a title which could have a number of meanings, particularly now we know Valkyrie is indeed gay.

Honestly, what else did you expect? This is to the point and exactly what you would expect from a gritty movie featuring the fan-favourite Avenger. It's good to see her logo front and centre too.

The biggest surprise at Comic-Con was, of course, the fact that Blade is returning to the big screen. This logo perfectly emcompasses the fact that the Vampire Hunter operates both night and day.

This may be titled The Falcon and The Winter Soldier but the presence of Captain America's shield should tell you all you need to know; Sam Wilson is going to take on that persona on Disney+!

This is still a pretty weird title but it's easy to see the 50s inspiration here. It's been said on a number of occasions that the show will have a retro aesthetic as we head into the MCU's suburbs.

This title treatment is very different and it's hard to say what, if anything, it tells us about the series. What we do know, though, is that it will revolve around the God of Mischief from 2012.

This is simple but awesome and if you look closely, you may notice that we get what could be our first look at the show's animation style. Is that the Red Skull wearing Captain America's suit?

The logo for Hawkeye is obviously inspired by Matt Fraction's run and that makes sense, especially as the comic book series revolved around Clint Barton training and working with Kate Bishop.

And here it is, Marvel's Phase 4 slate. However, this probably isn't the entire slate because these movies and TV shows are only spread out over two years and that would be a very short Phase!

THOR: THE DARK WORLD Star Chris Hemsworth Admits To Being Disappointed With The 2013 Sequel

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52 Comments

1 2

MisterWhen - 10/7/2019, 1:34 AM

As much as I liked him as The Doctor, he was one of the worst villains and in the worst film of the MCU, don't really want home to return. He has a pattern of being ungrateful for the roles he has had too.

TheUnworthyThor - 10/7/2019, 1:35 AM

Spock0Clock - 10/7/2019, 3:48 AM

@TheUnworthyThor - I think all that may be left of the Marvel Bad Blood Club is Mickey Rourke, right? Maybe Howard, but I'm not sure I've heard him specifically complain about what happened.

OmegaDaGrodd - 10/7/2019, 4:20 AM

@Spock0Clock - I'd say Rourke, Howard and Norton are the remaining trio

Spock0Clock - 10/7/2019, 4:34 AM

@OmegaDaGrodd - I thought I remembered Norton making a comment softening his stance to the effect of "no hard feelings", but I guess I must have imagined it when he made that comment at the Willis roast. Okay, add Norton to that list, too.

OmegaDaGrodd - 10/7/2019, 5:35 AM

@Spock0Clock - Funny, I thought I remembered his comment being something to the effect of "kick rocks", so who knows

L0RDbuckethead - 10/7/2019, 7:54 AM

@OmegaDaGrodd @Spock0Clock - Here's the full quote. It came from when they were filming a Comedy Central Roast, and Norton was one of the roasters.

http://movieweb.com/edward-norton-incredible-hulk-marvel-bruce-willis-roast/

Spock0Clock - 10/7/2019, 9:20 AM

@L0RDbuckethead - @OmegaDaGrodd - For some reason, I thought there was more to the comments (or maybe a second round that someone asked him about a short while after). But yeah, I was apparently completely imagining it. (Donkey brain.)

OmegaDaGrodd - 10/7/2019, 9:58 AM

@Spock0Clock
@L0RDbuckethead

I think we both missed the mark because this is even harsher than I remembered

L0RDbuckethead - 10/7/2019, 9:58 AM

@OmegaDaGrodd - Lol yeah that's why I linked it.

No worries, @Spock0Clock, I knew what you were talking about.

nuclearpriest - 10/7/2019, 3:05 PM

@Spock0Clock - Hugo Weaving perhaps?

tmp3 - 10/7/2019, 1:38 AM

This guy was so [frick]ing good in The Leftovers, almost made me tear up in the final episode (before the final scene made me bawl). Definitely felt wasted in Thor after seeing what he was capable of there.

Kumkani - 10/7/2019, 1:56 AM

Just recast

L0RDbuckethead - 10/7/2019, 7:56 AM

@Necropolitan - That would be the logical option.

Like they did with Red Skull.

Kennedy - 10/7/2019, 2:01 AM

Okay, so when I first heard Malekith was in Thor: The Dark World and Christopher was the actor to portray him, I was really excited. Great Villain, great actor for one of my favourite Marvel Heroes. But then Malekith was written so colourless... literally. Which so un-Malekith (He once turned a guys into venomous snakes). So, if we can get a re-do with a more psychotic, unhinged, magic wielding, sadist Malekith? Yes. Please.

You could easily say something like - Malekith didn't die, he was just banished to a plain non-existence or something of the like. And after the Stones went bye-bye, Malekith was able to return to our world through the cracks of reality. And maybe, through the experience, Malekith is now crazed, a bit of a nihilist and has gained some reality warping level powers (Like the ones his he tends to wield with magic in the comics - he once turned a mans eyes into venomous snakes).

Oh, and he found out what colours were whilst he was in this other realm or something...

Kyos - 10/7/2019, 2:21 AM

Malekith actually was the incredibly bad, shallow villain people used to accuse every MCU villain of being.

MyCoolYoung - 10/7/2019, 2:28 AM

Malekeith just didn't have that much to do since Taylor was made to bring Jane into the fold and earth he was just a side character. I wouldn't mind him coming back but he'd probably be that once again

Spock0Clock - 10/7/2019, 3:44 AM

If they really didn't tell him about the makeup process, that sucks for him.

tylerzero - 10/7/2019, 3:56 AM

He also sucked as Destro. Pass.

Hawknaba - 10/7/2019, 5:17 AM

Throw him into the Loki series, i think that would work

WeaponXCII - 10/7/2019, 5:33 AM

The MCU has done the whole redeeming villains- in terms of quality, I mean- before, so I say, why not?

CplHicks - 10/7/2019, 5:53 AM

Not enough humor? Weren't some of his character development scenes cut because an edict came down that more comedy scenes needed to be shoehorned in?

HeavyMetal4Life - 10/7/2019, 6:26 AM

No the worst villain in the MCU, but near the bottom.

1 2

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THOR: THE DARK WORLD Star Christopher Eccleston Changes Tune About MCU And Is Now Open To Returning

Christopher Eccleston played Malekith in Thor: The Dark World, and he hasn't shied away from criticising his time in the MCU in the years that have followed. Now, he's willing to return...on one condition!

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