<P> Feige noted that Thor: Ragnarok would primarily take place in the "cosmos" rather than on Earth, a departure from the previous Thor films . He expanded by saying, "Tonally and geographically there are a lot of different planets outside of the nine realms that we visit" in the film . Waititi consulted with theoretical physicist Clifford Johnson on space travel . Johnson viewed early drafts of the script, and gave Waititi physics ideas that could "wink at some of the classic old (Thor) stuff"; Johnson previously consulted on the second season of the MCU television series Agent Carter . Comic artist and Thor co-creator Jack Kirby was one of Waititi's major visual inspirations for the film . Winderbaum also called Walt Simonson's "Ragnarok" story arc an inspiration for "really fun elements...both stylistically and narratively", as well as Thor: God of Thunder by Jason Aaron, which was the inspiration for Hela's design and abilities . Waititi said the planet Sakaar, which is featured in the "Planet Hulk" storyline, was "the biggest shift for the film and these characters", with Winderbaum describing it as "the toilet of the universe", surrounded by "wormholes that have been spitting things out into this place for eons". Also featured is Muspelheim, one of the Nine Realms, ruled by Surtur . Production designer Dan Hennah described it as a Dyson sphere, with the realm drawing power out of a dying star to energize its inhabitants . Hennah hoped to give Asgard "more of a humanity" than in previous films, by adding smaller building perspectives to help the realm seem more practical and utilitarian . For Saakar's gladiator arena, Hennah looked at Roman gladiators, but differentiated from previous similar ideas by going "all alien with it". The arena is surrounded by "standing up bleachers". </P> <P> Waititi said that the film would reinvent the franchise, as "a lot of what we're doing with the film is, in a way, kind of dismantling and destroying the old idea and rebuilding it in a new way that's fresh . Everyone's got a slightly new take on their characters, so in that way, it feels like (this is) the first Thor (2011)." He added that he had seen the other films and respected them, but wanted to focus on making a "standalone film because this could be the only time I do this . I just want to make it (my) version of a Marvel film in the best way possible ." This is something Hemsworth had hoped for, looking to have a lighter tone in Ragnarok compared to the previous Thor films, especially the second one, similar to Guardians of the Galaxy . He said, "I feel we had less of the sort of the naivety or fun or humor that the first (Thor) might have had . I wish we had more of that in the second (movie)... We've done regal . We've done Shakespeare, and we've shown that . I think now it's time to go,' Ok, cool . Let's try something different ."' Hemsworth continued that in order to prevent the character or film from becoming "predictable", there was "definitely a goal to do something unexpected...I think we want to get back to more of a sense of adventure and fun". </P> <P> The events of Ragnarok are set four years after the events of Thor: The Dark World, two years after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, and around the same time as the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Spider - Man: Homecoming (2017), with Winderbaum noting that "things happen on top of each other now in Phase Three ." The events of Ragnarok also set up Avengers: Infinity War, and Hemsworth spoke to Infinity War directors Anthony and Joe Russo before receiving the script for Ragnarok to see how it would link to Infinity War . He said Ragnarok "definitely bleeds nicely into those (films)", and Winderbaum likened Ragnarok's impact on the larger MCU to that of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), saying it would break down ideas regarding Asgard that were previously established similar "to how Winter Soldier broke down S.H.I.E.L.D." </P> <P> Principal photography began on July 4, 2016, under the working title Creature Report, at Village Roadshow Studios in Oxenford, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, exclusively using all nine of the studios' sound stages . Additional filming was to occur throughout the state of Queensland, including Tamborine National Park . The Brisbane central business district, where filming took place from August 22 to 25, was used to double as New York City . Javier Aguirresarobe served as cinematographer on the film, describing his work on the film as "a rare combination of satisfaction and frustration", feeling that he was mostly there to service the director and visual effects supervisor, but felt "very happy to have been able to respond to such incredible technical requirements". </P>

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