‘It was pointless acting’: Anthony Hopkins SLAMS Marvel movies as he admits he loathed filming Thor installments in front of green screen

More than a decade after he first appeared as Odin in 2011’s Thor, Anthony Hopkins is speaking out about his experience in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Hopkins, 85, played Odin in 2011’s Thor, 2013’s Thor: The Dark World and 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, though he recently spoke rather disparagingly about his experience.

The actor spoke with The New Yorker in a wide-ranging piece about how the Marvel Cinematic Universe ultimately ‘swallowed’ Hollywood as a whole.

‘They put me in armor; they shoved a beard on me. Sit on the throne, shout a bit. If you’re sitting in front of a green screen, it’s pointless acting it,’ Hopkins said.

The actor’s comments come just weeks after a first look at the actor as Roman Emporer Vespasian surfaced for the new series Those About To Die.

Speaking out: The actor spoke with The New Yorker in a wide-ranging piece about how the Marvel Cinematic Universe ultimately ‘swallowed’ Hollywood as a whole

Interestingly enough, Hopkins would ultimately credit landing the role in 2011’s Thor with continuing his acting career, since he was considering retirement at the time.

Hopkins revealed in the 2021 book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that Thor director Kenneth Branagh gave him the encouragement he needed to continue acting.

‘Branagh gave me back the chops to work. I was gonna give it up, really. But you see, [Branagh] won’t let you do that,’ Hopkins said. 

He added, ‘Working with Ken was quite an injection of new energy into my life. He seems to have that same infectious quality on everybody in the crew.’ 

‘His enthusiasm, his attitude, is so positive, that he brings out the best in everybody,’ Hopkins revealed.

It’s possible that Hopkins’ experience on the Thor movies soured after the original, since Branagh didn’t return to direct 2013’s Thor: The Dark World (directed by Alan Taylor) or 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok (directed by Taika Waititi).

Both 2011’s Thor and 2013’s Thor: The Dark World were considered among the ‘weakest’ entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in terms of box office gross and critical acclaim.

Thor took in $181 million domestic (28th of 32 MCU movies) and Thor: The Dark World earned $206 million domestic (26th of 32 MCU movies). 

Continuing: Interestingly enough, Hopkins would ultimately credit landing the role in 2011’s Thor with continuing his acting career, since he was considering retirement at the time

Sequel: It’s possible that Hopkins’ experience on the Thor movies soured after the original, since Branagh didn’t return to direct 2013’s Thor: The Dark World (above, directed by Alan Taylor) or 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok (directed by Taika Waititi)

Weakest: Both 2011’s Thor and 2013’s Thor: The Dark World were considered among the ‘weakest’ entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in terms of box office gross and critical acclaim

Big hit: 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok turned things around with critics (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and at the box office ($315 million domestic, $853.9 million worldwide)

Critics weren’t overly impressed either, with the original Thor earning a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and Thor: The Dark World at 66%.

2017’s Thor: Ragnarok turned things around with critics (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and at the box office ($315 million domestic, $853.9 million worldwide).

Hopkins would go on to win his second Oscar for The Father in 2021, and he reprised that role last year in The Son.

He will also star in One Life with Helena Bonham Carter and he’s playing Sigmund Freud in Freud’s Last Session.