No ‘Thor’ For Townsend

I love Stuart Townsend, but sometimes I question his choices.

This week Townsend quit “Thor.”  The last time he quit a movie?  He was replaced in “Lord of the Rings” by Viggo Mortensen.

Joshua Dallas will replace him in his “Thor” role as Fandral the Dashing.  Dallas is a relative unknown, but will be seen in the upcoming “Red Tails,” George Lucas’ film about the Tuskegee Airmen.

Zachary Levi of “Chuck” reported that he was a shoe-in for the role of Fandral several months ago, but wasn’t able to balance his film and television schedules.

And for Townsend, it’s those dang “creative differences” to blame again…

So far, the rest of the cast has been gushing from the set, where shooting began this week.  Ray Stevenson, who plays Volstagg, told reporters “it’s just great fun and [director] Kenneth Branagh is fantastic!”

He continued, “It’s basically the ‘Thor’ comic book.  It’s definitely the Marvel comic book.  The origins of the Norse legends.  What is actually behind the Norse legends is what’s explored in the Marvel comic book.  The existence of Asgard and the Nine Realms.  It’s more in the high realms of intergalactic space and planets.  It’s very exciting!  [It’s] epic.  There are visits to Earth as well, with the wonderful Stellan Skarsgard and Natalie Portman.  But the presence of gods, or the previous presence of gods…it’s a great, great film.  The sort of film you want to see as a kid.  You come out [saying] ‘Oh my god, flight of fantasy here we go!’  It’s that escapism again, and Marvel and Disney are putting their weight behind it, putting a lot of money behind it.  It’s the first day of filming.  It couldn’t be more exciting.”

Kat Dennings tweeted, “First day off filming and I’m already staggering around my hotel room shirtless and dazed like a homeless man.”

No creative differences there, apparently.