Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is well under way, with a whopping three movies hitting in 2017 alone. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Spider-Man: Homecoming have already released this summer, and now we just have to wait a little longer for Thor: Ragnarok. The superhero blockbuster has an excellent cast with a ton of characters, both new and old, set to make one of the most exciting entries in Marvel’s roster. Right now, Black Panther is the only solo movie that can match Ragnarok in sheer casting power.
The third Thor movie dives deep into the Thor mythology, giving plenty of classic comic book characters their live-action debut while also letting some more established MCU characters in on the fun. Because there are so many characters to keep track of, we thought we’d assemble a handy list for every confirmed character appearing in Thor: Ragnarok later this year. From gods to aliens to Jeff Goldblum, here’s everyone who has a role to play in the third Thor movie.
Thor
You probably knew this one already. Chris Hemsworth returns for the fifth time as Thor, the hammer-wielding Avenger. Hemsworth will be taking Thor in a new direction for his latest movie, as the God of Thunder finds himself stripped to his bare elements and stranded on the planet Sakaar without Mjolnir by his side. Thor: Ragnarok is going for a more comedic approach with the character and letting Hemsworth have more fun in the process. After those Team Thor videos, we’re definitely on board for a looser Thor.
Hulk
The Hulk might have missed out on that other team-up movie in the MCU, but he’s making up for it here with a supporting role in Thor: Ragnarok. Drawing heavy inspiration from the Planet Hulk storyline, the Hulk is the prize gladiator on Sakaar, where he has to do battle with Thor, his “friend from work.” Ragnarok has been described as an intergalactic buddy road movie starring Thor and Hulk, so there are lots of things to look forward to from Hulk and his alter ego Bruce Banner’s latest appearance.
Hela
Cate Blanchett steps in to seriously class up this movie as the main villain, hopefully contributing to the (short) list of excellent MCU villains. Hela, the Asgardian Goddess of Death, has already made a strong first impression thanks to her shattering of Mjolnir, establishing her as a crazy powerful adversary worthy of the two most powerful Avengers. In addition to hammer crushing and a wicked taste in hats, Hela can summon weapons from her body and is fully capable of wiping Asgard off the map.
Loki
Tumblr rejoice! It’s been a while since we’ve seen Loki, but the fan favorite character is finally back. Loki has been ruling Asgard under the guise of Odin since Thor: The Dark World and now that cliffhanger is finally paying off years later. Not much is known about Loki’s role in the movie, but he can be seen watching his brother compete on Sakaar and battling in — assumedly — the defense of Asgard from Hela. This could very well be the last we see of Tom Hiddleston as Loki, so get your fan art ready and drink it in while you can!
Valkyrie
Valkyrie makes her live-action debut in Thor: Ragnarok. In Norse mythology, the Valkyrie are responsible for escorting the souls of warriors to their eternal resting place in Valhalla; in the movie, Valkyrie is an Asgardian warrior who works for the Grandmaster, recruiting worthy fighters for gladiator matches in exchange for hiding out on his planet. It’s been said that Valkyrie is keen to forget her past, but she’ll still end up an ally to Thor and help him stop Hela from going nutso on Asgard. Valkyrie will also be seen in an unknown capacity in Avengers: Infinity War.
Heimdall
Open the Bifrost! Heimdall is one of Thor’s staunchest allies and the guardian of Asgard. (He’s not very good at his job). Idris Elba reprises his role as Heimdall, who can be seen looking especially ragged in the excellent first trailer. The extent of his role is unknown, but there’s been a theory swimming around that the final Infinity Stone, the Soul Stone, is actually in Heimdall’s eyes, which allows him to see every soul in the universe. There aren’t very many places for the Soul Stone to show up, so we’ll wait and see if this theory pans out.
Grandmaster
Jeff Goldblum makes his entrance into the MCU in the most Goldblum-y role yet. The Grandmaster is a cosmic being with a penchant for games and gambling. He houses a gladiator ring on his home planet of Sakaar and observes the matches from his luxurious suite. It’s the Grandmaster who pairs up Thor against his No. 1 gladiator, the Hulk, so we have him to thank for what looks to be a super fun smackdown.
Skurge
Also known as the Executioner, Skurge is a skilled warrior who is usually attached to the hip of the Enchantress in the comics. However, that character is definitely not in Thor: Ragnarok, so Skurge will be a little different here. He’s a skilled Asgardian warrior known for wielding an ax and occasionally firearms — which we see in the trailer and the above photo. His role in the movie is still a bit of a mystery, but he’s probably not a guy Thor wants to tango with in a dark alley without his hammer. Karl Urban plays him in the superhero blockbuster.
Doctor Strange
Fans already saw a tease of Doctor Strange’s second appearance in the MCU in the post-credits scene of his debut film. Thor visits the Master of the Mystic Arts at his Sanctum Sanctorum seeking his help tracking down the missing Odin in New York City. The two of them had a fun back and forth, and it’ll be exciting to see what director Taiki Waititi does with Strange’s magic (more magic beer mugs, please). Strange likely won’t stick around long, but he has a much bigger role in Avengers: Infinity War waiting just around the corner.
Odin
Great Odin’s Raven! We weren’t sure what to make of Odin’s fate after Loki took his place on the throne. Well, we can at least now confirm that he isn’t dead and is somehow trapped in New York City. Set photos have shown Anthony Hopkins dressed as a homeless man, so he may have been robbed of his powers like Thor was once upon a time. With some help from Doctor Strange, Thor and Loki arrive in the city to finally track him down.
Korg
Korg is a character that was introduced in the Planet Hulk storyline, a fellow forced gladiator who becomes allies with the Hulk. Korg is still a gladiator in Ragnarok, but this time around, he befriends Thor and shows him the ropes in the ring. The big rock man (whose species we first saw in Dark World) is the entryway into the world of Sakaar and will be “huge and heavy but with a light soul.” Director Taiki Waititi performed the role using motion capture, so he’s also probably going to be pretty funny.
Sif
Though actress Jaimie Alexander is listed on IMDb as reprising her role as Sif in Thor: Ragnarok, this has not actually been confirmed yet. Alexander wasn’t on the cast list from the official press release, and the actress has remained suspiciously coy about her involvement in the third Thormovie. Her lead role on the TV show Blindspot could have caused some scheduling conflicts, so right now, it’s unclear if the warrior Sif will finally get her due.
Volstagg
Like Sif, the role of Volstagg is credited on IMDb, but there is no official confirmation. However, actor Ray Stevenson was seen on social media in Australia (where Thor: Ragnarok filmed) in a post that said he was there to film the movie. We’ll have to wait for more footage from the film to know for sure what the situation is, but the chances look decent for Asgard’s most gluttonous warrior to appear once again.
Hogun
Another member of the Warriors Three who’s MIA. IMDb keeps listing these Asgardians but no one at Marvel has spoken up yet. Like Ray Stevenson, Hogun actor Tadanobu Asano was spotted in Australia while Thor: Ragnarok was there filming. The Warriors Three may have small roles in the upcoming flick, but seeing as how Ragnarok essentially means “doomsday,” they may not be around for long.
Surtur
Never doubt the spoiling power of merchandise. An immensely powerful fire demon from Muselheim, Surtur is one of Thor’s most powerful villains. Surtur’s involvement was revealed after he was seen as a part of the official line of Pop Vinyl figures based on Thor: Ragnarok. Not an official confirmation per say, but it really might as well be. Surtur’s role in the grand scheme of the movie is unknown, but now we might know what’s supposed to bring about the end of Asgard.
Culled from Cinemablend