In a departure from his normal cerebral choices for directing, it seems British actor and film-maker Kenneth Branagh has decided to take on something a little less complex, the Marvel Studios version of "Thor". "Thor" is based on the well known German/Norse God of Thunder, but in the Marvel Universe and prospective film, he has an alter-ego, a disabled medical student called Donald Blake, which makes the god have a more human/vulnerable side than some superheroes. The film has a scheduled released date of 2010.

Branagh is probably best known for his performance in "Henry V" and his lavish production of "Hamlet". The 47 year old thespian usually wins critical applause for his roles, such as his Emmy award winning turn in "Conspiracy", where he played one of the main architects of the Holocaust, Reinhard Heydrich.

In our gallery there are pictures of Kenneth Branagh at the New York premiere of his film "Sleuth", which starred Michael Caine and Jude Law.