Sometimes the speculation mill just nails it. A couple weeks ago, a stuntman for Thor: The Dark World revealed a clue that we might be seeing the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim in the Marvel Studios sequel. Now, Deadline reports Christopher Eccleston has been cast as the film’s villain, Malekith the Accursed — leader of the Dark Elves.
Malekith is perhaps best known in the comics for having used the Casket of Ancient Winters, an item that figured prominently in the original Thor when Loki (Tom Hiddleston) used it to get past Heimdall (Idris Elba) so he could plot with the Frost Giants to attack Asgard. Malekith once used it on Earth to provoke Thor as part of a bigger plot to invade Asgard.
We can presume Eccleston got the same part that once belonged to Mads Mikkelsen, before he left the project to play Hannibal Lecter in the TV pilot Hannibal.
Eccleston’s biggest claim to fame is being a former Doctor Who. He has also appeared in a couple Danny Boyle films, specifically Shallow Grave and 28 Days Later, in addition to roles in G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra and Gone in Sixty Seconds.
Thor: The Dark World will be directed by Alan Taylor and begins filming in the U.K. later this month under the title “Thursday Mourning.”