Marvel Confirms Cate Blanchett as ‘Powerful’ Villain and Jeff Goldblum for Next ‘Thor’ Film

The next installment in the Marvel film series for Thor is going to be a star-studded event that may even rival the recently released box office smash, Captain America: Civil War.

On Friday, Marvel officially announced – after some months of speculation – that Cate Blanchett was joining the cast of Thor: Ragnarok, as “the mysterious and powerful new villain Hela,” the company wrote in a press release. With the announcement, Marvel released an official look at Hela in a piece of concept art, though the character is shrouded in shadow as the Asgardian army faces her down.

But Blanchett isn’t the only star power coming to the cosmos in Thor: Ragnarok.

“Jeff Goldblum (the upcoming Independence Day: Resurgence, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Jurassic Park) who joins the cast as the eccentric Grandmaster, Tessa Thompson (Creed, Selma) who will bring the classic hero Valkyrie to life on the big screen, and Karl Urban (Star Trek trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King) who will add his might to the fray as Skurge,” are all confirmed in the cast, according to Marvel.

Read the rest of the press release below. Thor: Ragnarok hits theaters Nov. 3, 2017.

“Rounding out the cast for the film is three-time Oscar®-nominee Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight, The Kids Are All Right, Foxcatcher), reprising his role of Bruce Banner/the Hulk from Marvel’s The Avengers and Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

“’The continuation of the epic Thor franchise will be powerful and unique, and with the additions of Cate, Jeff, Tessa, Karl, and Mark to the cast we have the makings of his most dangerous and heroic adventure yet,’ said producer Kevin Feige. “The sheer, raw talent each of these actors brings to the screen can’t be quantified. Having any one of them join the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be an honor, and having all of them is incredible.”

“Thor’s new cast members join returning stars Chris Hemsworth (Rush, In the Heart of the Sea, Ghostbusters) in the title role for the fifth time; Tom Hiddleston (Crimson Peak, The Night Manager, Kong: Skull Island) as Thor’s adversarial, adopted brother, Loki; Golden Globe® and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Idris Elba (The Dark Tower, Luther, Beasts of No Nation) as the Asgardian sentry, Heimdall; and Academy Award®-winner Sir Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs, Nixon, Hitchcock) again portraying Odin, Ruler of Asgard.

“Thor: Ragnarok, the third installment of Marvel’s popular Norse Super Hero, is directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Taika Waititi (Two Cars, One Night, What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople). Kevin Feige will produce the film, joined by executive producers Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Thomas M. Hammel and Stan Lee.