“I’m not really allowed to say this and I can’t tell you what it is…I did a couple of days on Thor just before I came over here,” Neill said in an interview with The ShortList, adding, “If I say anything else, Marvel’s secret agents, and they are lethal, will come and get me and probably my children, as well.”
Most expect Neill to be part of the convoluted comic book mythology of the Marvel Universe as Ragnarokfeatures Jeff Goldblum as the Grandmaster, a cosmic being with a penchant for gambling. The Grandmaster is one of the Elders of the Universe, a loose collective of aliens, each the last surviving member of their respective races, who now sit in judgement of the big events of the Marvel Universe.
Benicio del Toro played another Elder named the Collector appearing in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Kurt Russell’s living planet Ego, who’ll show up in next year’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, is also part of the collective.
Neill fits firmly in the “60-something actor known for 1980s and ’90s roles in cult and/or blockbuster movies beloved by the nerd audience” demographic of all the other Elders announced since Del Toro’s casting.
Fans then ask if Neill is playing an Elder, the question then becomes which one?
Some ridiculous characters are the Runner, who likes to run or The Gardener, who is an intergalactic pacifist and horticulturalist. There is the Caregiver, the Astronomer or the Contemplator, all of whom are pretty well described by their names.
One Elder is named the Trader, a master manipulator and dealmaker, which might make him a character to keep around for future movies. Similarly, the Judicator and the Explorer are both characters that may prove their worth as background characters, as their names would suggest.
The Champion of the Universe, for example, is an immortal who had proclaimed himself the greatest warrior in existence, who may be key in the face off against Thanos, but could be an easy target to kill off in order to prove Thanos is a major threat. Father Time, too, is enough of a powerful threat to bring onstage in order to give Thanos some screen time could be a possible fall guy as well.
Director Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok will return Chris Hemsworth with Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston and Anthony Hopkins. Joining the cast: Cate Blanchett as Hela, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Goldblum as Grandmaster and Karl Urban as Skurge.
Stephen Nevets - Stephen is a contributor and writer on The Dispatch. Stephen is the founder and editor for the Steven Spielberg Fan Club website and contributes to pop culture stories on The Dispatch, especially upcoming movie news.
Beginning in 2016, Stephen took the role of Managing Editor for the Tampa Dispatch.
Benicio del Toro played another Elder named the Collector appearing in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Kurt Russell’s living planet Ego, who’ll show up in next year’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, is also part of the collective.
