Anthony Hopkins will star in latest Marvel Studios production

Academy Award winning actor Anthony Hopkins will be starring next in the Paramount Pictures film "Thor."

According to an article on Variety.com, "Hopkins will play Odin, the father of Thor and Loki. Chris Hemsworth is playing Thor, and Tom Hiddleston plays Loki. Kenneth Branagh will direct. Natalie Portman is also set to play Thor's love interest, Jane Foster."

Branagh's past directing ctedits include the 1991 thriller "Dead Again," the 1993 film adaptation of the William Shakespeare comedy "Much Ado About Nothing," which was actress Kate Beckinsale's first film and the 2006 film adaptation of the William Shakespeare dramedy "As You Like It."

"Thor" was scripted by Mark Protosevich and Zack Stentzand and is slated to begin production in January. The plot of the motion picture revolves around a partially disabled medical student Dr. Donald Blake and the unearthing of his Norse god alter ego, the hammer-swinging Thor.

Paramount Pictures plans to premiere the film in theaters on May 20, 2011.The Variety.com article then mentions Hopkins's other upcoming motion picture endeavor, "Hopkins will next be seen starring with Benicio Del Toro in the Joe Johnston-directed ‘The Wolfman,' which Universal releases next February.'"

The character of "Thor" was created by Stan Lee and has been featured in Marvel Comics publications. The character was based on the Thor of Norse mythology and has appeared in Marvel merchandise such as clothing, toys, an animated television series, trading cards and video games.