Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods was not only a phenomenal horror film, but played a major part in Chris Hemsworth being cast as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Although it had its share of hardships getting from post-production to release, The Cabin in the Woods was well-received by critics and audiences alike and boasted much of the sharp humor Whedon is known for along with smart protagonists, gruesome monsters, and excellently paced scares. The film began its initial production in March 2009, but ended up shelved for three years first because there was an attempt made to convert it to 3D, and the delay increased after its first studio, MGM, went bankrupt in 2010. The Cabin in the Woods finally premiered at SXSW in March 2012, and hit US theaters in April 2012 after being picked up by Lionsgate.
In the interim, various cast members went on to pursue other roles since their work on The Cabin in the Woods was largely complete and there was no need to be wrapped up with a project that seemed dead in the water. Chris Hemsworth had his eye on the role of Thor Odinson in Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming film, Thor, which released in 2011. However, the actor has said on multiple occasions that he “blew” his first audition with Branagh and initially, it seemed unlikely that he’d be cast.
Chris Hemsworth Landed Thor After The Cabin In The Woods
During shooting for The Cabin in the Woods, Whedon became aware of Hemsworth’s audition for Thor and questioned why he wasn’t further involved in the process. According to Hemsworth in an interview, Whedon had expressed surprise about him not being considered for the role, and, after Hemsworth told him about the failed audition with Branagh, Whedon said he’d call the director. Hemsworth also cites healthy sibling rivalry for his continued interest in the role, because after he deemed himself no longer in the running for Thor, he got word that Branagh was considering his younger brother, Liam, for the part.
Eventually, Branagh gave Hemsworth a second call-back, which he attributed to Whedon’s influence and promised phone call; he and Branagh were friends. Hemsworth ended up filming a second audition tape in his hotel room in Vancouver while he was still filming The Cabin in the Woods and drafted his mother, Leonie, to read the role of Odin. Also during production of The Cabin in the Woods, MGM saw shots of Hemsworth in a scene where he was directing his friends in a leadership role and, based on what they saw, decided to cast him in Red Dawn (2012). Two days later, Hemsworth got the call saying he’d been chosen for the role of Thor.
Joss Whedon was announced as the writer and director for The Avengers in July 2010, which was while much of The Cabin in the Woods’ fate was still unknown. The Avengers (2012) marked the second collaboration between Whedon and Hemsworth, who likely owes the director a debt for what ultimately ended up launching his very successful career in the massive superhero franchise.
Next: Thor Is The Only Original Avenger With A Real MCU Future
