Taika Waititi Says Thor: Ragnarok Is His Version Of “Thor 1”

Thor: Ragnarok might seem like a large leap from the first two Thor movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but to director Taika Waititi, the superhero space buddy adventure doesn't even make the jump. To Waititi, Ragnarok is his version of Thor 1.

Speaking in an interview with Screen Rant during a set visit this week, the Marvel director explained why Thor: Ragnarok didn't find itself bound by Thor and Thor: Dark World, saying that though he's "seen the other films" and "respect(s) them a lot," his movie's pretty much a "standalone thing."

"I think the main challenge, for me, was actually working at getting away from the other two films. And again… Yes, the other films are there, and it's great to watch them. I think they're good films. But I don't mind if people start with this film. In my mind, for me, this is is my ‘Thor 1.'

I've seen the other films, and I respect them a lot. But I can't spend too much time thinking about this as a threequel. Because then I'll get tied up too much in respecting what went before, and respecting what's going to come after. It just, for me, has to be a standalone thing. Because this could be the only time I do this. And I just want to make it a version of a Marvel film in the best way possible."

The director's also been making some noticeable changes to Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) character because "personally I feel like…if the movie's called Thor, then Thor should be the best character." Humor has been infused into the Asgardian God of Thunder in an attempt to make the hero more charming than his broker Loki (Tom Hiddleson) who has somehow ended up stealing the spotlight from Thor during his first two movies.

Hopefully all of these changes will result in a much better Thor film that fans will all get to enjoy.

Thor: Ragnarok hits cinemas November 3, 2017.

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