Sneak Peek new concept artwork supporting the upcoming Marvel movies "Captain America" and "Thor".
According to director Joe Johnston ("The Wolfman") , the look of 'Captain America' in "Captain America: First Avenger", now shooting in London, UK, is 'a flag'.
"But the way we're getting around that is we have 'Steve Rogers' forced into the USO circuit," said Johnston."After he's made into this super-soldier, they decide they can't send him into combat and risk him getting killed. He's the only one and they can't make more.
"So they say, 'You're going to be in this USO show' and they give him a flag suit. He can't wait to get out of it.
"It was never in the comics because they didn't really need it. In comics, he puts on the costume and the reader just justifies because of the nature of the medium.
"So he's up on stage doing songs and dances with chorus girls and he can't wait to get out and really fight. When he does go AWOL, he covers up the suit but then, after a few things happen, he realizes that this uniform allows him to lead. By then, he's become a star in the public mind and a symbol. The guys get behind him because he embodies something special.
"He realizes the value of the uniform symbols but he modifies his suit and adds some armor, it will be closer to the Cap costume in some of the comics in more recent years . . . this approach, it's the only way we could justify ever seeing him on a screen in tights, with the funny boots and everything. The government essentially puts him up there as a living comic-book character and he rips it off and then reclaims some of its imagery after he recognizes the value of it. We think it's the best way to keep the costume and explain it at the same time..."
Marvel Studios "Thor", directed by Kenneth Branagh, stars actor Chris Hemsworth ("Star Trek") as the title character.
'Thor' is an 'Asgardian' Norse thunder god, banished to earth in the guise of lame 'Dr. Don Blake', oblivious of his noble standing in the cosmos, until he is called back to duty to save the universe. 
Natalie Portman plays 'Jane Foster', the mortal nurse that fell in love with 'Don Blake'.
Also cast are Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins as 'Odin', Renee Russo as 'Frigga', Ray Stevenson as 'Volstagg', Tadanobu Asano as 'Hogun', Josh Dallas as 'Fandral', Jaimie Alexander as 'Sif' and Idris Elba as 'Heimdall'. 
Branagh is determined to deliver a 'fantasy masterpiece', with his characters regally comporting themselves in a Shakespearean-like tragedy on 'Asgard', a small planetary body that serves as home to all the Norse gods and their ruler, 'Odin', the father of Thor.
Asgard exists in another dimensional plane, the size of the US, on a flat, asteroid-like mass, connected to the 'Nine Worlds. One permanent portal, 'Bifrost' or the 'Rainbow Bridge' leads to 'Midgard' (Earth), but it was 'shattered' making it difficult to travel between dimensions.
"Thor" lensed in Los Angeles and Santa Fe, New Mexico, with post continuing throughout 2010, for a Paramount domestic release May 6, 2011.
"...The epic adventure THOR 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..." 
Screenplay for "Thor" was written by Mark Protosevich, Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz and Don Payne. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige produces for executive producers Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel, and Marvel Studio’s Co-President, Louis D'Esposito.
In addition to "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger", Marvel Studios is developing "The Avengers" featuring 'Iron Man', 'The Hulk', 'Thor', 'Captain America', 'The Wasp' and 'Ant-Man'.
Marvel is self-financing "Thor" using a $500 million credit facility through Merrill Lynch, as they did with "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk".
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Thor"...
