Based on his comments, Ruffalo’s character, Bruce Banner — along with his angry green alter ego, The Hulk — will be a key figure as Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth) deals with the impending Norse apocalypse. In fact, Banner will be traveling around with the hammer-wielding god, with The Hulk apparently making frequent appearances.
“It’s an intergalactic buddy road movie with Banner and Thor,” Mark Ruffalo told ET’s Lauren Zima of the upcoming superhero flick.
“I think it will be smashing,” he said. “You’ll see a lot more Hulk.” And when we do, the superhero will be “Hulk-ier and bigger.”
With Natalie Portman (Jane) stepping out — new leading lady Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie) will step in — Banner can be the scientist at Thor’s side, not to mention a big, scary presence whenever they have cause to be mad. They’ll also be joined by other familiar faces, including Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Idris Elba (Heimdall) and Sir Anthony Hopkins (Odin).
In addition to Thompson, Academy Award winner (twice over) Cate Blanchett is new to the cast, and Ruffalo dropped some enticing tidbits about her role. She is set to play Hela, who is known in the comics as The Death Queen. The name sounds appropriately ominous.
“She plays the worst of the worst. So evil,” said Ruffalo. “She is going to kill us. It’s such a great part she gets to play.”
Thor 3‘s cast also includes Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster and Karl Urban as Skurge. The film is helmed by Flight of the Conchords director Taika Waititi.
Thor: Ragnarok is set to open in theaters on November 3, 2017.
