“[Liam and I] both auditioned for it, funny enough,” Hemsworth said during an interview last month at Comic-Con International: San Diego. “I had an audition, didn’t hear anything. The next minute I heard they were flying Liam over to meet Kenneth [Branagh, the director of “Thor”] and he was down to the last four guys, and I was like, ‘What?’”

Hemsworth laughs as he recounts what happens next. Liam met with Branagh, but for whatever reason, it didn’t work out for the younger Hemsworth sibling. But Chris said his little brother provided important advance legwork.

“And then I got another phone call [from Branagh] and was like, ‘S__, Liam. What worked, what didn’t? Tell me what he said! I got some advice, and …here we are.”

Here he is.

Hemsworth seems very aware of the moment he finds himself in right now, headlining a huge Summer 2011 blockbuster hopeful and co-starring in 2012’s All-Star game of a movie, “The Avengers.”

Everywhere he went in San Diego, from autograph sessions on the Con floor to Hall H to the media gatherings, the smile never left his face. He laughs. A lot. His answers to questions still seemed fresh, unspoiled by repetitiveness, whether talking to a national TV crew or a blogger with a Flip Cam.

He gets it. When you star in a superhero movie and you’re a 6’2 blonde-haired 27-year-old who is ripped out of his mind, you’re going to draw “Access Hollywood’s” attention. So he tries to have some fun with the incessant questions about the Godly physique he’s sporting in the film.

“There are no fake arms,” he says with a laugh.” The costume is …is a big heavy chain mail, leather costume. But when it’s me, it’s me. I put on 20 pounds and then lost a lot of it since then purely from not eating as much.”

For the record, it was chicken, protein shakes and lots of sleep that helped him add all that muscle.

Fresh off his 27th birthday, the Melbourne, Australia native is enjoying his time in the star-making machine. Why not? He’s collared a potentially career-defining role, playing an iconic Marvel superhero – the God of Thunder, no less. It’s one of those Vinnie Chase situations most young actors and their commission-craving agents only dream of.

Superhero movie projects bring a certain type of baggage unlike anything else in Hollywood not named “Twilight” or “Harry Potter.” The proliferation of comic book adaptations in recent years has done nothing to minimize that fever pitch, as Hemsworth is well aware.

“There’s a lot of pressure with something that’s existed for so many years before you were involved and already has a fan base, but you don’t let it affect the way you approach the film,” Hemsworth pointed out.

The Comic-Con presentation may have swung public opinion back toward the positive about the movie, but Hemsworth remembers the initial reaction to the news he was cast as Thor, when he made the mistake of lurking on a few online message boards. He stopped doing that before he started filming and just focused on the job at hand.

“For me, I approached it as you do it the best you can, whether it’s a small film or something big like this. It’s exciting and daunting.”

The footage we’ve seen thus far from “Thor” suggests a movie that will travel back and forth across the Rainbow Bridge between Earth and Asgard. Don’t expect Hemsworth to give you more details than that.

He may be new to all this, but he’s already well versed in the Marvel method of media management. Dole out carefully selected pieces of information, and nothing else. One storyline he will elaborate on is the importance Jane Foster plays in Thor’s search for redemption on Midgard.

In the translation from comics to cinema, the character has been adjusted from nurse to scientist. Natalie Portman is charged with portraying the woman who serves as Thor’s first real connection to ‘mere’ mortals.

“Part of her role in the movie is… she sort of grounds him [THOR] in the movie,” said Portman during a separate interview. “He’s exiled to Earth to learn humility. Her … earthiness is part of, hopefully, what transforms him. There are definitely changes in the character from the comic books, but that characteristic is certainly one of the things that remained.”

The trailer for the film showed Jane and Thor locked in a passionate kiss, but Hemsworth agreed with Portman that Jane Foster is more than just the romantic interest.

“There’s a bit of that, yeah. But also, it’s a big sort of, breaking point in Thor’s journey, learning some humility,” Hemsworth added. ‘He starts out as a brash, cocky young warrior, and she certainly influences him in different directions. She gives him a different angle to look at life from.”

Hemsworth prepped for the role by reading lots of Thor comics (he was partial to the Avengers storyline, and specifically the Mark Millar-Bryan Hitch “Ultimates” version of Thor) and various other unrelated books Branagh suggested as research. Both the actor and director greed you couldn’t have the God of Thunder eat too much humble pie, lest he lose his warrior’s edge.

“I think they do go hand-in-hand [ego and heroism]. It’s an ongoing battle, taming this berserk warrior that’s in him. Certainly that’s a big part of this film. He still has to be that warrior, that’s what makes him Thor. But also, you don’t want to watch a guy onscreen for too long that’s a jerk all the time,” he said laughing again. “You can have moments of it, ‘hey, that’s kind of cool, and bad’, but then it just gets old.”

Hemsworth didn’t just have to buff up to play Thor; he had to learn how to fight like a Thunder God. It helped that Hemsworth had studied the mixed martial arts technique Muay Thai for years. He also took up boxing, because it taught him to keep low to the ground and use his legs a lot during the fight scenes.

Then there was Mjolnir.

While it may look awesome when Walt Simonson is drawing it on the comic page, Mjolnir is, in Hemsworth’s words, not the most practical weapon. Figuring out how to use it presented major challenges for the actor.

“It has this big huge head on it, and a tiny little handle. “[The fighting] becomes very gritty, kind of street-fighting sort of stuff at times. Thor just happens to have a big ole Hammer in his hands, as well,” he said.

What about rumors that he tried to ‘liberate’ one of the prop Mjolnirs from the set?

“I did …nah, well, not officially (laughs). I mean, I certainly talked to a lot of people about it…but I forgot to take it!”

Hemsworth agrees with co-star Tom Hiddleston, who plays Thor’s half-brother Loki, that while “Thor” is a tale of Gods and war, it’s essentially a father-son story. Which makes for some nice career symmetry.

Hemsworth made a big splash with his cameo as James Tiberius Kirk’s dad in J.J. Abrams’ hit “Star Trek.” Now he’s playing the arrogant, hot-tempered son of Odin.

If it all comes together, and “Thor” hits big next summer, Hemsworth stands to get the biggest career boost. If it fails to deliver, then it’s on him, too.

That’s the problem with starring in a comic book movie. Sometimes you’re the hero; other times, you’re the villain.

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But when Hemsworth sat down during a roundtable interview I felt a little more confident that Branagh and company made the right decision. Hemsworth is a charming guy. Physically, he has the build required for the character. But more importantly, it’s obvious that he also has the likability to make Thor work.

Here’s what Hemsworth had to say:

How faithfully would you say they stuck to the language of the comic books?

Nay, we didn’t (laughs). In the comic books it’s much more Shakespearean the way they speak, we didn’t go down that path. They’re certainly well spoken and very formal, but it wasn’t Shakespearean.

What’s your favorite thing about Thor and the universe?

I mean, when this film came along I was knocking on every door trying to get a job. Once I got the job I think what excited me was that I love the Norse mythology aspect of it all.

When you’re in that suit and in the world itself you gotta walk a fine line of not slipping into camp. How did you approach that and were you aware that you could easily go over-the-top?

Absolutely. I made dainty footsteps to make sure and I solidly planted my feet there (laughs). The costume does so much work. Hopkins said to me when I put it on that there’s no acting required here. And so, I guess working out the fighting style it’s an ongoing process. The more we did dialog scenes and fight scenes in the rehearsal process you begin to feel like your character. Then there’s days where you do not feel like this guy at all (laughs), but you gotta pull it together. You just gotta trust the people around you and Kenneth and he’d say stuff like, “You’re at a three, I need you at 10.”

What did it take to become Thor?

It was a lot protein shakes, chicken, fish, and that was exhausting. The working out wasn’t the hardest part. It was the food intake.

What’s your take on Thor, character wise?

Much through the journey of the film he’s a brash and cocky warrior. He’s got a bit of temper and his greatest strength is also his biggest danger.

How was it doing the stunts and all the action?

Oh, I love that stuff. Anytime I can get into that stuff… you’re getting paid to do that and it’s ridiculous (laughs).

Any idea when we’ll see Red Dawn?

I don’t have a date for you, but it all depends on what happens with MGM. I know they’re excited about it and people are excited about it. Hopefully, early next year.

Thor hits theaters on May 6th, 2011.

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Natalie Portman and Kat Dennings clearly have some chemistry, something that was on full display during their interview with Splash Page editor Rick Marshall at this year’s Comic-Con. The two gleefully described their “Thor” characters of Jane Foster and Darcy “the gnome helper” (watch the video and you’ll see what we mean), but they also had plenty of thoughts to share on the God of Thunder himself.

Portman and Dennings described their experience working with Chris Hemsworth, the bearded Australian actor starring as Thor in Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming Marvel film. According to the actresses, their initial work with Hemsworth had the actor performing entirely in civilian clothes — and when he finally stepped out as Thor, the two of them were thunder-struck, to say the least.

“We worked with him for like three weeks or a month when he was just a human wearing his own clothes,” said Portman. “When he’s on Earth, he just wears normal clothes. Then all of the sudden one day he had the whole codpiece and cape! And I was like, ‘You’ve been hiding this from us?’”

As for Dennings’ reaction to seeing Hemsworth in all of his Thor regalia? Let’s just say that the actress made a gesture with her microphone that isn’t quite fit for print —but you can see it for yourself in the video. In fact, Portman described the gesture as worthy of an award for “Best Use Of A Microphone.”

Can’t say we disagree!

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The former Home and Away idol stars as the god of thunder in the 2011 movie Thor, directed by Kenneth Branagh and due to be released next May.

Hemsworth worked hard for the role of wielding Thor’s mighty hammer, including engaging in weapons training and ingesting protein shakes.

The 27-year-old actor is joining the likes of Avatar star Sam Worthington and True Blood star Ryan Kwanten on the Hollywood celebrity list.

His younger brother, Liam Hemsworth, is also rising in fame with his part in The Last Song and new movies in production including Arabian Nights.

These square-jawed, well built true blue Aussies are increasingly in demand, amongst established compatriots like Eric Bana, Russell Crowe, and Mel Gibson.

Hemsworth’s fans will be glad to hear they don’t have to wait until 2011 to see their hero on the big screen. The up-and-coming actor will be starring in Red Dawn to be released later this year.

Red Dawn is about a group of teenagers saving their town from invasion by Chinese and Russian soldiers.

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With all the manly talk surrounding “Thor” star Chris Hemsworth, there’s enough testosterone in the collective conversation to fuel the spontaneous growth of a few new chest hairs.

All this is well and good of course, but Hemsworth’s “Home and Away” co-star/fellow Aussie Sharni Vinson recently took a moment to express a little girlish enthusiasm for the lesser-discussed ‘Thor’ conversation topics — namely Hemsworth himself and her reaction to him being cast as the God of Thunder.

“Are you kidding me? I saw the trailer the other day, Chris Hemsworth is doing our country so proud right now,” Vinson told MTV at the premiere of her film, “Step-Up 3D.” “He’s doing me so proud right now, he’s doing ‘Home and Away,’ so proud, and he couldn’t look or be any more fabulous. I love that guy.”

And why is Hemsworth perfectly cast in the role?

“Look at him. Have you seen that man? He’s beautiful,” Vinson stated bluntly.

“And he’s just such a great guy to work with, he’s so professional and he’s such a good actor and he’s so committed,” she added. “He’s going to give that role his soul and that will all come across.”

2010 07 24 – Comic-Con 2010: Day 3
2010 07 24 – Comic-Con 2010: Captain America – The First Avenger Panel
2010 07 24 – Comic-Con 2010: EW & Syfy Celebration
2010 07 24 – Comic-Con 2010: MySpace & MTV Tower
2010 07 24 – Comic-Con 2010: Thor Panel

Does Thor fight Loki? “Thor” and future “Avengers” star Chris Hemsworth dropped a lot of headline-worthy news on us when he stopped by MTV’s Comic-Con live stream last weekend. He talked about landing the role of the God of Thunder, how he felt naked without his famous hammer and how Mike Tyson inspired his fighting style for the film.

With regard to that extensive training, one big question on fans’ minds is: Will Thor and his ever-envious adopted brother Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, come to blows in the film? Hemsworth spoke to that issue, and the short answer is “yes.” But the long answer includes Hemsworth’s playful retelling of shooting one of Thor and Loki’s pivotal action scenes.

“We did [come to blows] actually,” Hemsworth told MTV News. “It’s funny, we had this big rehearsal process of this one particular fight scene we were doing, and the whole time Tom has his staff and he has his Loki helmet on with the horns — he wanted to wear it in rehearsal so he knew how to move.

“Basically he’s sweating and he can’t hear anything, the thing is extraordinarily heavy, he had this kind of crazy look in his eye, and the whole time I’m like, ‘He’s going to kill me, poke my eye out,’ ” Hemsworth continued. “He’s swinging the staff and catching me in the leg and fingers, [I'm thinking,] ‘What’s going on?’ I kept thinking, ‘He’s going to hurt someone.’ ”

Hemsworth then revealed that with all his anxiety about getting injured by Hiddleston, when it came time to shoot the big scene, the roles were reversed.

“The day we shoot the scene, I ended up elbowing him in the nose,” Hemsworth admitted sheepishly. “And [there were] rivers of blood on the set — by accident. Subconsciously, maybe it was on purpose, but consciously I didn’t mean it,” he swore.

Hopefully we’ll hear Hiddleston’s side to that story soon.

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