Marvel's 'Thor' film may have found a director

He may not have been in many high-profile parts in the states lately, but actor-director Kenneth Branagh ("Hamlet," "Frankenstein") is reported to be close to becoming the director of the Marvel Comics produced movie "Thor."

Branagh is negotiating to make the picture and these things have a way of, well, going different ways as time goes on. It appears to be a pretty solid deal according to Variety.

I may be slow to embrace the "Captain America" idea but this is "Thor the God of Thunder" we're talking about. Trolls, Odin the All-Father, that twisted villain Loki and some of the best battle sequences a comic book could pack.

The kid inside who still remembers having his dad buy him a giant sized Thor comic many moons ago wants to see a movie that goes all out.

The script by Mark Protosevich ("I Am Legend") is said to include Thor's earth-born alter ego Dr. Donald Blake. My hope and expectation is that the filmmakers don't ignore a grand opportunity to give audiences a big battle in Asgard (Thor's home).

I know we want to set up an Avengers movie with Ironman, Hulk and all that, but to me, Thor is always best in battle and in his home environment.