Natalie Portman has been cast as the female lead in Thor, Marvel Studios' adaptation of its comic book featuring the Norse god of thunder. The 28-year-old Portman has been cast as Jane Foster, who was a nurse and first love of the title character in the Marvel Comics. According to Marvel Studios, the character is being updated for the movie version of Thor, in which the Norse warrior is cast down to Earth to live among humans.
Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) is already cast as Thor and Tom Hiddleston is Loki, the god of mischief who serves as the movie's villain. The film begins shooting early next year and is due in theaters May 20, 2011. Kenneth Branagh is directing it.
The movie is part of an ambitious schedule for Marvel Studios, including Iron Man 2, The First Avenger: Captain America and The Avengers.
