While BATMAN v SUPERMAN may be stealing all the headlines, we can’t forget that Marvel Studios still has their money factory in full swing. Up first we have CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR followed by DOCTOR STRANGE in 2016. 2017 is looking to give us our biggest helping of Marvel films yet, with GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2, an untitled Spidey film, and finally THOR: RAGNAROK.

The last film on that slate will be shooting in Australia in a few short months, and actors Chris Hemsworth and Cate Blanchett seem to be looking forward to it. 

In an interview with GQ, Thor himself expressed his excitement over the film shooting in his native country of Australia.

“When I was here [in Australia] years ago while doing some press, and talking to people, they were [asking] ‘when will you bring a film back here. When [Marvel was] talking about where [the movie] was going to be shot, I said, ‘Why can’t it be Australia? [We] just kept pushing, and that became a bigger conversation. And you know, it landed here, and I couldn’t be happier. A lot of my friends are going to be on that production; people I’ve worked with and known for years.”

The relatively recent casting of Cate Blanchett adds another notch in Marvel’s belt of having acclaimed, well-seasoned actors join their big cast. In the list of today’s most talented actresses, Cate Blanchett definitely falls somewhere on there, and as such, she was definitely a great get for the studio. 

From what we know, Blanchett’s role will be that of Hela, ruler of the underworld of the Nine Realms, and during an SK-II interview, the actress expressed her excitement to get fit for the role:

 â€œThe role in [Thor Ragnarok] came completely out of the blue. And it’s a gift because the thing that I said to myself this year is that I’m gonna get fit.”

While that’s all and exciting for her, don’t expect Blanchett to be doing this role solely as a vehicle for improving her health. In addition to making this film for her kids, Blanchett is interested in expanding her horizons as an artist. More often than not, she tends to take on smaller, more personal films, and by joining the MCU, she’s allowing herself to play in a completely different kind of sandbox.

“I’m super, super excited about it,” she said to Korean outlet Moloive.

“I’ve only done action a couple of times, so it feels like… a departure is too strong a word, but it certainly seems like a change for me. So, I am looking forward to getting really fit, and wearing lycra, and hoping to earn a bit of street cred from my kids. I can’t wait.”

What do you think of Hemsworth and Blanchett’s comments? Let us know your thoughts down below!

THOR: RAGNAROK hits theaters on November 3, 2017.

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SOURCE: GQ Australia, SK-II, Moloive (via Comic Book Movie)