thor: ragnarok

Call it the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Effect, but like James Gunn’s rollicking space operas, embracing the campier side of heroics complete with classic rock soundtrack, the trailers for the upcoming ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ are pure retro, set to the tune of Led Zepplin’s ‘Immigrant Song’ and featuring graphics that look like they were lifted from an 80s arcade game.

This film was ostensibly meant to explain the absence of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) during the events of ‘Civil War’, but it looks like this film plays a much larger role in the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe tapestry, with Thor and the Hulk forming their own team to stand against a newly risen Hela, the Goddess of Death (Cate Blanchett), and her army of the undead including her chief henchman Skurge the Executioner (Karl Urban).

And as they say, a common enemy can make for strange bedfellows.  Thor is obviously so desperate to stop Hela that he turns to probably the WORST possible person for help: Loki (Tom Hiddleston).  They are also joined by newcomer Brunhilde the Valkyrie played by Tessa Thompson.  It appears that Idris Elba’s Heimdall and Anthony Hopkins’ Odin will also play a big role and as teased in ‘Doctor Strange’, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Stephen Strange will also pop up in some capacity.

Sif and the Warriors Three are also expected to be in the movie, it’s unclear in what capacity or why Thor doesn’t… or can’t turn to them for assistance.

The gang’s all here in this new stylish poster from Japan.  Hela looms ominously overhead, while below Thor, brandishing swords instead of his hammer Mjönir— which if you’ve seen the trailers, you know why– flanked by Heimdall, Loki, Hulk (in battle armor), Valkyrie, Odin and enigmatic newcomer the Grandmaster played by Jeff Goldblum , who was briefly teased in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’.

Hela won’t be the the only force of evil in the film, as we’ve already seen glimpses of fire giant Surtur in the trailers.  It’s also rumored that Hela will appear in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ as the object of Thanos’ affections.

What do you think of the new poster?  Are you glad to see Thor and Loki fighting side-by-side?  Or is Thor getting squeezed out of his own movie?

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ directed by Taika Waititi starring Chris Hemsworth, Karl Urban, Jeff Goldblum, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Jamie Alexander, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, and Mark Ruffalo strikes theaters on November 3, 2017.