This is very exciting news indeed! Rumours were rife that such starry names as Robert De Niro were in the frame to play Odin in Kenneth Branagh‘s take on Marvel‘s "Thor". Well, if it is indeed possible, all involved have gone one better and hired Anthony Hopkins to play our hammer–wielding hero‘s dad.

As Odin, the big tamale in the Norse world, Hopkins will star opposite Chris Hemsworth ("Star Trek") as the sometime God of Thunder who‘s forced to dust off his trusty hammer when Loki, God of Mischief, starts shaking things up down on Earth.

The Hollywood Reporter‘s Heat Vision Blog was first on the scene and even managed to scoop the official synopsis;

"The movie‘s story centres around the god of thunder Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions re–ignite an ancient war. As punishment, Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans. Once here, he learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends dark forces of Asgard to invade Earth."