Earlier this year at San Diego Comic-Con,Marvel unveiled propsfromThor: Ragnarokin the form of “gladiator Hulk armor” pieces, confirming that a portion of the storyline would be an infusion ofPlanet Hulk. Now, directorTaika Waititihas revealed another major piece from the well-known comic book storyline.
In the latest issue ofTotal Film(photographed byMCU Exchange), the filmmaker said Sakaar, the titularPlanet Hulk, will be featured in the film.
Sakaar was just an insane, far-off, futuristic place which was the biggest shift for the film and these characters…I was really excited whenKevin [Feige]and the rest of Marvel jumped on board with the idea to use[Jack] Kirbyas a big influence in the design of the film. What’s really hard is staying authentic.
InPlanet Hulk, Bruce Banner’s alter-ego found himself on Sakaar when it was ruled by a corrupt empire led by the Red King, whose forces subsequently captured Hulk and made him into a gladiator in the Imperial Arena. S.H.I.E.L.D. had planned to shoot Hulk off into space to a lush, uninhabited planet, but his ship got sucked into a wormhole, leading him instead to Sakaar. Perhaps the same will befallMark Ruffalo’s Banner. The magazine notes that Sakaar will be where Thor reunites with Hulk, who has “made a name for himself as a gladiator.”
Among the film’s cast,Thor: RagnarokfeaturesJeff Goldblumas The Grandmaster, which seems like a good replacement for the Red King in this scenario.Cate Blanchett(Hela),Karl Urban(Skurge), andTessa Thompson(Valkyrie) join returning playersChris Hemsworth(Thor),Tom Hiddleston(Loki),Anthony Hopkins(Odin), andIdris Elba(Heimdall).
Much like the mid-credits scene fromAnt-Manwas lifted fromCaptain America: Civil War,it seems like the same was doneforDoctor Strange, which suggestsBenedict Cumberbatchwill appear as the Sorcerer Supreme inRagnarok.
