<P> In June 2011, Walt Disney Studios set a July 26, 2013, release date for the Thor sequel with Chris Hemsworth reprising his role as the title hero . It was also reported that Branagh would not be returning as director but would likely be involved in a producing capacity . The Los Angeles Times cited the long commitment necessary for a special effects - heavy epic and the pressure to start the script process right away as reasons for Branagh's departure, although he was initially enthused by the chance to direct the sequel . Branagh noted, "It was a long time (making the first film) and they were way too quick for me to get straight back into another, (but) it was a pleasurable experience and a film I'm very proud of ." The following day, Marvel formally hired Payne, one of the credited writers of the first film, to script the sequel . In August, Brian Kirk entered early negotiations to direct the Thor sequel . The film would have marked Kirk's first time directing a big - budget motion picture, after having directed television series for HBO, Showtime and the BBC, including Game of Thrones . </P> <P> In September 2011, Tom Hiddleston confirmed he would return in the sequel, speculating that in the film, "(Loki will) have to take responsibility for what he's done". Patty Jenkins, the director of Monster and the pilot episode of AMC's The Killing, entered early negotiations with Marvel Studios and Disney to direct the film, after Kirk had passed due to contractual sticking points that arose during negotiations . Later in the month, Feige stated the sequel would "take Thor literally to other worlds" and would "primarily be the journey of that character, of he and Jane Foster and how the new dynamic with his father is working out, as well as what are the broader stakes for The Nine Worlds". On October 13, 2011, Marvel confirmed that Jenkins would direct the sequel and Natalie Portman would return to star . Disney also moved the release date for the film to November 15, 2013 . </P> <P> In December 2011, Jenkins exited the project, citing "creative differences". She stated, "I have had a great time working at Marvel . We parted on very good terms, and I look forward to working with them again ." Jenkins felt she could not have made a good film "out of Thor 2 because I wasn't the right director...I could have made a great Thor if I could have done the story that I was wanting to do . But I don't think I was the right person to make a great Thor out of the story they wanted to do ." Jenkins had intended to create a film based on the premise of Romeo and Juliet, where Jane was stuck on Earth with Thor forbidden to come save her . After Thor eventually does travel to Earth, he and Jane would have discovered that Malekith was "hiding the dark energy inside of Earth because he knows that Odin doesn't care about Earth, and so he's using Odin's disinterest in Earth to trick him ." </P> <P> Three days later, it was reported that Marvel was looking at Alan Taylor and Daniel Minahan as prospective directors to replace Jenkins, and were also in the midst of hiring a writer to rewrite Don Payne's script, with the shortlist of possible writers consisting of John Collee, Robert Rodat, and Roger Avary . At the end of the month, Alan Taylor, best known for directing episodes of the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, was chosen to direct the sequel . Feige mentioned Taylor's work on the series Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones as reasons for his hiring, saying "With Alan's direction we got a few more layers of patina, of texture, of reality into our golden realm ." By January 10, Marvel Studios had commissioned screenwriter Robert Rodat to rewrite the sequel and Hiddleston stated that filming was expected to begin in London in the summer of 2012 . Hemsworth later confirmed that filming was scheduled to begin in August . Hemsworth also revealed that the film would have a more Viking - influenced feel, elaborating "I think the science fiction element to Thor...the danger is it falls a little bit into the world of it's' tough to throw a light to .' I think of big waterfalls and mountains and a Viking influence, where the Norse mythology kind of grew from . Having that in Asgard is going to make it all the more special and that's what Alan (Taylor) wants to bring to it ." Feige said "while the relationship between Loki and Thor certainly has changed (after the events of the movie The Avengers) and has progressed, a lot of Thor 2 is picking up where it left off in terms of Jane, who you just saw for a moment on a computer monitor, and also what's been going on in the nine realms without the Asgardians being able to use the Bifrost ." Feige also said that while Loki has a part, "there will be a different villain, another big villain". </P>

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