Eccleston as Malekith in Thor 2

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Marvel has released a publicity poster for Thor 2: The Dark World, spotlighting the villain of the piece… as played by Ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston!

Following the release of similar posters last week focussing on the lead character, as played by Chris Hemsworth, and Tom Hiddleston as Thor’s evil half-brother, Loki, the image of Malekith, ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim, certainly cements Eccleston’s character as a major player in the sequel.

And yes, you might need a double-take. Or a triple-take. I still can’t believe it’s our leather-jacket-wearing Northerner under that incredible make-up.

The film is a sequel to 2011 Kenneth Branagh-directed movie, and features returning characters like Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, Anthony Hopkins as Odin, and Stellan Skarsgård as Dr. Selvig. Luther fans will also be interested to know that Idris Elba is also back as the all-seeing Heimdall – and he says his role has been increased since his last outing:

“We’re going to get to know Heimdall the Asgardian a bit better, and we’re going to get to know Asgard a bit better. I can’t say too much, but the expansion of Thor in his world is going to be huge.”

Eccleston’s villian, Malekith the Accursed, first appeared in Thor #344, in 1984, as part of Walt Simonson’s critically-acclaimed run on the title. Christopher actually plays the last of his kind in The Dark World – though Malekith’s ultimate aim is a bit different to the Doctor’s: all he wants is to plunge the universe into darkness.

Yep, Malekith sounds a bit Bifrösty. (Sorry.)

Thor: The Dark World is released in the UK on 30th October, or, bizarrely, 8th November in the USA. Mind you, much of the filming was done in Britain…

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