Back in January it was reported that Christian Bale was in talks to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a role in next year’s Thor: Love and Thunder, and now we have confirmation not only on the Oscar-winner’s casting, but that he’ll be the film’s main villain.
“Christian Bale is going to play our villain, which is going to be fantastic,” said Valkyrie actress Tessa Thompson during an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the Westworld season three premiere. “I’ve read the script. I can’t tell you much. Lots of exciting text messages exchanged between Natalie [Portman] and I. We’re going to have fun. Taika is writing [and] directing. Some familiar faces. Some new people coming into the mix.”
While there’s been nothing concrete, previous rumours/speculation have linked Bale to the role of Dario Agger, a newer Marvel villain who featured prominently in the Mighty Thor comic series from Jason Aaron, reportedly a big influence on Love and Thunder. However, it’s also been claimed that Bale is playing an “otherworldly intergalactic villain”, which would seem to rule out Agger, a businessman and the CEO of Roxxon, who also happens to possess the ability to transform himself into a minotaur.
Thor: Love and Thunder is set to begin shooting this summer, with Thor: Ragnarok’s Taika Waititi returning to the director’s chair and Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster), Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie) and Waititi (Korg) all reprising their MCU roles. It is set for release on November 5th 2021.
SEE ALSO: Taika Waititi says Thor: Love and Thunder will be “bigger, bolder and brighter” than Thor: Ragnarok
