Loki Officially Cast in 2011 Thor Movie

Marvel Studios announced today Hiddleston has been cast as the villain Loki in the highly anticipated movie "Thor." Kenneth Branagh will direct the film penned by Mark Protosevich and Ashley Miller & Zak Stentz.

Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige will produce the film. The film will be released in the U.S. on May 20, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of super hero: "Thor." This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

"Thor" reunites Hiddleston with Branagh, with whom he worked on the London production of Chekhov's "Ivanov." The talented actor and Branagh also starred together in the BBC miniseries "Wallander."

Hiddleston's credits also include "Othello," in which he starred with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Ewan McGregor at the Donmar Warehouse, and he played Winston Churchill's son in HBO's "The Gathering Storm."

In 2008, Hiddleston was nominated twice for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer – for his role in Othello" and for his role in "Cymbeline." He won the award for the latter.

In addition to "Thor," Marvel Studios is also scheduled to release a slate of films based on the Marvel characters including "Iron Man 2" on May 7, 2010, "The First Avenger: Captain America" on July 22, 2011, and "The Avengers" on May 4, 2012.

Source: Marvel