Only a few hours ago, Marvel Studios announced an unbelievably impressive collection of new cast members for Thor: Ragnarok, with Cate Blanchett (Hela), Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie), Karl Urban (Skurge), and Jeff freakin’ Goldblum (Grandmaster) joining the God of Thunder for his third big screen outing. But who are these characters I hear you cry? Well, scroll down for a full who’s who of these new additions.
Hela
As you would expect from someone with three fourth’s of the world ‘hell’ in her name, Hela isn’t the nicest of people, appointed by Odin as the Goddess of Death, ruling over her own corner of the Nine Realms, Hel, where the should of those Agardian’s who didn’t die in battle reside. Always looking to expand her empire, Hela has made several plays to take over Valhalla, which house the souls of those Asgardians who did die in battle, bringing her into constant conflict with Odin and Thor, often times with Loki backing her up. Despite her evil ways, both the king of Asgard and his mighty offspring realise the importance of Hela in relation to the natural balance of life and death, Odin at one point resurrecting the Death Goddess after slaying her to save Thor’s life. With Loki left controlling Asgard at the end of Thor: The Dark World, expect he and Hela to team up to make Thor’s life hell this time round.
Valkyrie
Once an ordinary Asgardian woman named Brunnhilde, Valkyrie is the Odin chosen leader of the Valkyrior (translated to Choosers of the Slain), a group of warrior goddesses who ferry souls of the chosen to the hallowed halls of Valhalla, a role she has occupied for centuries. With Hela appearing in Ragnarok, it’s safe to assume she’ll be protecting Valhalla from her influence once again. Over the course of her history, the immortal soul of Brunnhilde has inhabited different human bodies, after her original body was compromised, each one taking on the role of Valkyrie. Brandishing an enchanted sword named Dragonfang (that once was in the possession of Doctor Strange), carved from the tooth of an extra dimensional dragon, Valkyrie often rides into battle on a winged horse name Aragorn.
Skurge
Born in the Land of the Giants, Jotunhiem, Skurge grew up to be a fierce Asgardian warrior, wielding a magic double sided battle axe that could be used to cut rifts into other dimensions, while also giving him power over fire and ice. From his first appearance, he was in constant conflict with Thor, mainly under the influence of his true love the Enchantress, a powerful Asgardian sorceress who didn’t reciprocate his feelings, viewing him only as muscle to use for her own ends. After the Enchantress (the role Balnchett was originally rumoured to be in line for) eventually spurned his advances, Skurge struck out on his own, seeking to ease his pain in the heat of battle. Despite some misgivings, Thor granted him permission to join him and a group of other Asgardian warriors on a mission to Hel to rescue a group of human souls Hela was refusing to part with. While Thor returned to Earth with the souls, fought the force of Hel to a standstill, before ultimately falling in battle. His soul remained in Hel, until he redeemed himself enough to be allowed access to Valhalla.
Grandmaster
One of the oldest living beings in the universe, the immortal Grandmaster developed a fascination with games of skill and chance from all civilisations over the course of his long life. The thorn in the side of many a hero, he often uses his cosmic powers to pit two teams against each other to get what he wants. One of the Elders of the Universe, Grandmaster is close with fellow elder, the Collector (played, of course, by Benicio Del Toro in Guardians of the Galaxy), even at one point, when the Collector had died, challenging Death to a game with the power to resurrect his friend as the prize. He was also the mastermind behind the Contest of Champions, a mega Marvel crossover event. With Thor rumoured to be going on a “cosmic road trip” with the Hulk by his side, don’t be surprised if Grandmaster is behind it.
Hela
Valkyrie
Once an ordinary Asgardian woman named Brunnhilde, Valkyrie is the Odin chosen leader of the Valkyrior (translated to Choosers of the Slain), a group of warrior goddesses who ferry souls of the chosen to the hallowed halls of Valhalla, a role she has occupied for centuries. With Hela appearing in Ragnarok, it’s safe to assume she’ll be protecting Valhalla from her influence once again. Over the course of her history, the immortal soul of Brunnhilde has inhabited different human bodies, after her original body was compromised, each one taking on the role of Valkyrie. Brandishing an enchanted sword named Dragonfang (that once was in the possession of Doctor Strange), carved from the tooth of an extra dimensional dragon, Valkyrie often rides into battle on a winged horse name Aragorn.
Skurge
Born in the Land of the Giants, Jotunhiem, Skurge grew up to be a fierce Asgardian warrior, wielding a magic double sided battle axe that could be used to cut rifts into other dimensions, while also giving him power over fire and ice. From his first appearance, he was in constant conflict with Thor, mainly under the influence of his true love the Enchantress, a powerful Asgardian sorceress who didn’t reciprocate his feelings, viewing him only as muscle to use for her own ends. After the Enchantress (the role Balnchett was originally rumoured to be in line for) eventually spurned his advances, Skurge struck out on his own, seeking to ease his pain in the heat of battle. Despite some misgivings, Thor granted him permission to join him and a group of other Asgardian warriors on a mission to Hel to rescue a group of human souls Hela was refusing to part with. While Thor returned to Earth with the souls, fought the force of Hel to a standstill, before ultimately falling in battle. His soul remained in Hel, until he redeemed himself enough to be allowed access to Valhalla.
Grandmaster
One of the oldest living beings in the universe, the immortal Grandmaster developed a fascination with games of skill and chance from all civilisations over the course of his long life. The thorn in the side of many a hero, he often uses his cosmic powers to pit two teams against each other to get what he wants. One of the Elders of the Universe, Grandmaster is close with fellow elder, the Collector (played, of course, by Benicio Del Toro in Guardians of the Galaxy), even at one point, when the Collector had died, challenging Death to a game with the power to resurrect his friend as the prize. He was also the mastermind behind the Contest of Champions, a mega Marvel crossover event. With Thor rumoured to be going on a “cosmic road trip” with the Hulk by his side, don’t be surprised if Grandmaster is behind it.
