Kevin McKidd, star of NBC’s upcoming time-travel series Journeyman, talked about the rampant rumors that he may play the title character in a big-screen version of the Marvel comic book Thor. Speaking in a conference call on September 6, McKidd (HBO’s Rome) called the reports “semi-true.” “I didn’t know about it either until I heard the rumors and I called my agent,” McKidd said. “And he went, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’ve been talking to them about it.’ But the last I heard from my agent, they’re talking that they want to go for somebody much younger, a 19- or 20-year-old, for that role. So they’re reconceptualizing it as we speak.”
Matthew Vaughn (Stardust) is set to direct Thor for Marvel Studios, and he reportedly wants McKidd, whose credits include The Last Legion, for the lead role of the God of Thunder. Even if a younger actor were to play Thor, McKidd hastened to add, he might still appear in the project. “I think there’s the other main male character in that movie that I’m in consideration for,” the Scottish actor said. “But, certainly by no means it’s not in the bag or anything and, to be honest, until I read a script I don’t really know. I haven’t really had a look at a script. This is all still just information that’s coming in. So, you know, it could be fun, but it just depends on what’s on the page. I think it all starts and finishes with the quality of the script.”
Marvel Studios is setting Matthew Vaughn to direct Thor, based on the Marvel Comics character. Marvel is aiming for a pre-strike production start this winter. Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend) did the adaptation of the comic book franchise that launched in 1962. Thor is a blonde-tressed, hammer-wielding hero who’s sent to Earth to protect mankind. Vaughn’s deal is closing just as Paramount releases the Vaughn-directed Stardust today. Thor marks Vaughn’s second effort at a superhero pic. He was attached to direct X-Men: The Last Stand before bowing out for personal reasons. Vaughn, who produced the Guy Ritchie-directed films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, made his directing debut with the Daniel Craig starrer Layer Cake.
