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According to The Hollywood Reporter, the one and only Sir Anthony Hopkins is in negotiations to join the cast of Thor to play Odin, Thunder God and Thor's regal father. While very few details have emerged from this report, it raises questions about the role itself, which was long-rumored to be filled by Shakespearean actor Brian Blessed.

When the rumor (which was ultimately proven false) about Robert De Niro and Jude Law joining the cast initially hit, I took it as a sign that there was some casting scrambling occurring for a film, that while stacked with a solid cast, was without any box-office drawing stars. (Which, while the rumor was false, remains a valid issue.) Whether Brian Blessed's role as Odin was ever actually set, is something that remains to be revealed, although his name was deleted from the cast list on imdb weeks ago.  However, IF Blessed was at any point, actually in consideration, only to be edged-out by a more bankable name, it may speak volumes about the obstacles that this film faces.

Unless Thor's Chris Hemsworth becomes a huge star sometime in the next year, either through his work or some other notorious reason, the Thor brand itself is not going to draw masses of people to the theaters. This one's hopes will seemingly rest on the possibility that Iron Man 2 will be AMAZING and that its Avengers lead-in will be so strong that it will drive people towards the Norse God's profile film. It's surely possible, but even if the IM2 is good, it doesn't necessarily guarantee it will happen.

The other glimmer of hope is the possibility of it being the artistic success that some have been speculating it will become. Kenneth Branagh has reportedly boned-up on the source material, and with his vast experience and knowledge in Shakespearean tragedy, that may be the more likely scenario. The film is to take place mostly in the mystical land of Asgard, and will be a tale of Thor, a once spoiled and arrogant prince, who is thrust into a rivalry with an evil half-brother that ultimately results in his being exiled to Earth in human form by his own father, Odin. With Anthony Hopkins (possibly) on board, this one might be the big the sleeper among the slew of Avenger-related films coming in the 2011-2012 era.

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