Marvel’s recent casting announcements (opens in new tab) have been met with widespread approval, perhaps none more so than the confirmation of Jeff Goldblum’s involvement in Thor: Ragnarok (opens in new tab). The Jurassic Park actor will be playing the Grandmaster in the highly anticipated MCU film, and he’s preparing for the role by doing a little bit of research:
“[Grandmaster is] a hedonist, a pleasure-seeker”, Goldblum told Empire (opens in new tab). “He’s an enjoyer of life and tastes and smells. I thought, ‘I can do that, I’ll bet!’ I’m working on my part every day. I’m a sponge, researching. [Waititi] is encouraging me to improvise and make it my own, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I hope he doesn’t throw me out on the first day!”
For those not in the know, the Grandmaster is an ancient elder of the Marvel universe who at one time held one of the six infinity stones. There’s a good chance that that little nugget of information will come up in Thor: Ragnarok. Lest we forget, Avengers: Age of Ultron ended with Hemsworth’s hero leaving Earth to find out what’s coming – that’d be Josh Brolin’s Thanos – and with Infinity War fast approaching Marvel needs to put their final chess pieces in place before the endgame.
In any case, Goldblum will doubtless bring his own unique brand of humour to his role, and something tells me Thor: Ragnarok will be all the better for it.
Directed by Taika Waititi and starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Jaimie Alexander, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, Cate Blanchett, Karl Urban, and Mark Ruffalo, Thor: Ragnarok will be released in UK cinemas on October 27, 2017 before opening in US theatres on November 3, 2017.
Images: Universal Pictures