Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has reportedly signed on to reprise his role of title character Thor, God Of Thunder, in the upcoming sequel scheduled to hit theaters in July of 2013.
Original Thor screenwriter, Don Payne (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer), has also agreed to return to work on Thor 2 – and while Kenneth Branagh will not return as the sequel’s director, he will likely return in some capacity – possibly as a producer.
Released in early May of this year, Thor has earned approximately $435 million at box offices worldwide. Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman star alongside Hemsworth in the film, as characters Odin and Jane Foster, respectively.
The popular 27-year-old Hemsworth has many projects in the works: he will appear in The Avengers – due in theaters May 4, 2012 – and will also star in the upcoming thrillers, Shadow Runner and The Cabin in the Woods.
Hemsworth will also soon begin filming of Snow White and the Huntsman, where he will play the hunter to Kristen Stewart’s Snow White. Charlize Theron has been cast as the ugly stepmother. This film is expected to hit theaters June 1, 2012.