Now that we as a human race have gotten a chance to marvel at the teaser for THOR: RAGNAROK, it’s time to open the flood gates for new info we can gorge on. A new detail has just rushed through said gates, and it involves director Taika Waititi and the awesome role he gave himself in the film.
While talking at a press event yesterday Waititi revealed that he will be playing the Planet Hulk character, Korg, a massive mountain creature of the Kronan race. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) bashed another member of the race to bits in one hit in THE DARK WORLD, so there's a image for you to place in your head. Waititi answered why he took on the role of such a huge creature, citing how getting Dwayne Johnson was practically impossible:
Obviously, being made of rocks, we wanted somebody like The Rock to play him, but there wasn’t enough chicken or salmon in Australia to sustain he and Chris. I never thought I’d be playing the most lovable character in the film.
Much like Thor and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Korg is forced to fight in the arena for The Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), but becomes a fierce ally for the God of Thunder. One scene was screened for the reporters, and it shows Thor asking him how he got there, and Korg replies, “I tried to start a revolution, but I didn’t bring enough pamphlets.”
As well, Waititi mentioned how they wanted to give Korg a big heart to go along with his head:
We wanted to change the idea of what a hulking guy made of rocks could be. He’s huge and heavy, but with a light soul. We wanted to make him funny and a entry point into this world. And Thor needs friends.
Waititi has been known to give himself roles in all of his films (including a lead role in WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS and a cameo in HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE) , but this will be his biggest for a litany of reasons. Waititi is a funny performer with excellent timing, so I’m sure he’ll be a real scene stealer in RAGNAROK, a movie already shaping up to be as hilarious an outing as it is action-packed.
THOR: RAGNAROK arrives November 3.