While on the sofa of The Jimmy Kimmel Show earlier this week, Thor: Ragnarok star Chris Hemsworth made a joke that’s sure to get comic book movie fans everywhere salivating: he quipped that he was interested in joining the DC Extended Universe. Specifically, to play Batman’s enemy, Edward Nygma/The Riddler.
When the talk show host complimented him on his green velvet jacket, Hemsworth said it was a homage to his Ragnarok teammates Loki and Hulk, before switching to a reference to the famed DC villain. “I have a Riddler audition after this, so…” he quipped.
Kimmel then inquired more seriously about whether it was even possible for a Marvel actor such as Hemsworth to consider also working in the DCEU. The Australian star remained non-committal on the subject, joking that it depended on how much he got paid.
“Depends on the cost, the payment. If it’s more than fifteen dollars an hour, sure.”
If Hemsworth did crossover to the DC side, he wouldn’t be the first actor to bridge the gap between the MCU and their rival superhero franchise. Laurence Fishburne is currently portraying Perry White in the DCEU but is also joining Marvel to play Goliath in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Likewise, The Avengers director Joss Whedon has jumped ship to tidy up Justice League and make Batgirl for Warner Bros.
However, despite there being some history of the two studios sharing personnel, Hemsworth himself has previously said that it was “illegal” for Marvel actors to join DC, suggesting some clause in his and his co-stars’ contracts prohibits them from ever working with their rivals. So, it’s clear that the actor was joking either then or in his Jimmy Kimmel interview. We’re just not sure which.
Moving onto Thor: Ragnarok, Hemsworth spoke about how the goal with the threequel was to break down everything that had gone before and start again.
“We all had, I think, the same sort of want, need, and passion to change this up in a big way. I remember meeting with director Taika [Waititi] early in the process and he said, ‘Let’s just break everything we know. Destroy it. Rebuild it.'”
Be sure to catch Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Ragnarok when it lands on November 3rd.