Bringing Thor to the big screen for the first time was one of Marvel Studios' earliest challenges. While the character was essential to the studio's big Avengers plans, it wasn't exactly easy to translate the world of Asgard from the comics. As a result, the 2011 Kenneth Branagh film deserves a lot of credit for what it achieved -- but looking back on it, screenwriter Ashley Miller does wish he could change one thing: the God of Thunder's fight with The Destroyer.
Miller, who co-wrote Thor with Zack Stentz, Don Payne, J. Michael Straczynski, and Mark Protosevich, recently contributed to the Austin Film Festival-published book On Story - Screenwriters & Filmmakers On Their Iconic Films, and in promotion of it now being available for purchase, I had the pleasure of chatting with him over the phone this morning. After a lengthy discussion about his experience making not only Thor, but also X-Men: First Class, I asked about what he was most proud of, and the one thing he would change from each film. His answer for the Marvel Studios film was interesting, as he believes that what should be one of the movie's most impactful, climactic moments doesn't quite work as it should. Said Miller,
If there's anything that I wish we could have done differently, I would have loved to have pumped up the battle with The Destroyer. I think that there was probably more to play there, and I think it was, again, difficult to realize on screen. Because that's the moment of his real transformation.
For those that don't remember, Ashley Miller is describing the scene towards the end of the film where Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has sent the giant metal warrior known as The Destroyer down to Earth to kill Thor (Chris Hemsworth). The sentient Asgardian armor winds up leveling a New Mexico town -- but before it can hurt anyone further, the God of Thunder sacrifices himself. This act of bravery is what once again makes him worthy to wield Mjolnir and have the power of Thor -- and it's basically his "I'm a superhero now" moment complete with a quick ass-whooping. You can watch the clip for yourself below, and judge whether or not Miller is correct in his assessment:
So what is it that Ashley Miller is most proud of with his work on Thor? Well, he pretty much sees the fact that it functions as a fun summer blockbuster despite its challenging source material as one giant win. Said the screenwriter,
The thing I'm most proud of with Thor is that it worked, and that people walked out of that theater loving Thor and seeing Thor the way I love him, and the way I see him.
Be sure to stay tuned for more from my interview with Ashley Miller, and you can read a whole lot more about his time working on Thor and X-Men: First Class in On Story - Screenwriters & Filmmakers On Their Iconic Films.
