Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Action Movies

Marvel wanted Mel Gibson to play Thor's Dad but he turned down the role

News
By Amon Warmann published 27 May 2016

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

For most actors, a key role in a Marvel movie is not something you pass on. Back in 2010 however, that wasn't something Mel Gibson was particularly interested in.

Speaking with The Guardian at the Cannes Film Festival, Gibson revealed that he could have joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe long ago; “Yeah, [I was approached] a long time ago to play Thor’s dad. But I didn’t do it”. 

While it’s fun to ponder what a Mel Gibson Odin might have looked like, Anthony Hopkins has left an indelible mark on the role. This isn’t to say that Gibson isn’t a fan of superhero cinema though; "Some are good. Some are kind of funny … ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ Or the first ‘Iron Man.’ And some of them are just like [retreads]. I mean you can watch them do Spider-Man five times…”  

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

“It’s a different kind of business these days”, Gibson continued. “I think all films are suffering from people not being able to now open them with their name. You used to get more variety of stories, films and performances. You had more of a chance of a profound film experience. But that’s not gone. I think that has been relegated to the independent world – but they have to do it twice as fast for half the money”.

Gibson is 100% correct about how the business has changed; Back in the good old days names like Schwarzenegger and Stallone were enough to open a movie, whereas nowadays it's all about brands like Marvel. It would be interesting to see how Gibson fares in a comic book movie though, whether he's on camera or behind it. 

You may like
  • Lena Headey in Game of Thrones Game of Thrones star reveals her "very, very funny" role that was cut from Marvel's Thor: Love and Thunder
  • Chris Hemsworth as Thor in the Avengers: Doomsday trailer 15 years later, Thor's original director has an idea for Chris Hemsworth's final Marvel movie
  • Chris Hemsworth in Avengers: Endgame Avengers: Endgame writers had to fly in Chris Hemsworth and Taika Waititi to make sense of how they were changing Thor

Directed by Taika Waititi and starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Jaimie Alexander, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, Cate Blanchett, Karl Urban, and Mark Ruffalo, Thor: Ragnarok will be released in UK cinemas on October 27, 2017 before opening in US theatres on November 3, 2017.

Images: Lionsgate

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Amon Warmann
Amon Warmann
Social Links Navigation

Amon is a contributing editor and columnist for Empire magazine, but is also a Film and TV writer for GamesRadar+, Total Film, and others. He has also written for NME, Composer Mag, and more, along with being a film critic for TalkSport. He is also the co-host of the Fade to Black Podcast, and a video mashup creator. Can also do a pretty good Bane impersonation.

Read more
Lena Headey in Game of Thrones
Marvel Movies Game of Thrones star reveals her "very, very funny" role that was cut from Marvel's Thor: Love and Thunder
 
 
Chris Hemsworth as Thor in the Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Marvel Movies 15 years later, Thor's original director has an idea for Chris Hemsworth's final Marvel movie
 
 
Chris Hemsworth in Avengers: Endgame
Marvel Movies Avengers: Endgame writers had to fly in Chris Hemsworth and Taika Waititi to make sense of how they were changing Thor
 
 
Nic Cage in Spider-Noir, holding a mask
Superhero Shows Before Spider-Noir, Nicolas Cage almost played the Green Goblin in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man
 
 
jurassic park
Adventure Movies Steven Spielberg reveals Harrison Ford turned down Alan Grant in Jurassic Park
 
 
Ian McKellen as Magneto in X-Men
Marvel Movies Ian McKellen says he always wanted a "good speech" in X-Men, but that comic book movie speeches are limited to "pow!"
 
 
Latest in Action Movies
Daniel Craig
Action Movies Not content with Star Wars and Marvel, Disney reportedly considered buying James Bond before Amazon
 
 
Key art for Gears of War.
Action Movies Netflix's Gears of War movie sounds like it will be set just before the events of the first game
 
 
Milly Alcock as Supergirl in Supergirl
DC Movies Supergirl director thinks the DCU movie will combat "superhero fatigue" because nothing "is formulaic"
 
 
Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem in Supergirl
DC Movies Supergirl star Matthias Schoenaerts talks Krem's Mad Max-style look and its redesign from the comics
 
 
Milly Alcock as Supergirl and David Corenswet as Superman in Supergirl (2026)
DC Movies James Gunn says Supergirl being "at odds" with Superman is a big part of Man of Tomorrow
 
 
Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El in Supergirl
DC Movies James Gunn gave the Supergirl director "guidelines" on one character and told him to change a scene
 
 
Latest in News
Path of Exile mirage djinn in sandy with chain
Action RPGs Path of Exile co-creator "would have scoffed at something like Baldur's Gate 3" 10 years ago
 
 
SpongeBob, in a burger car, races through The Krusty Krab with Big the Cat nearby in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Sonic the Hedgehog Despite Sega's Mario Kart World shade, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has "fallen short" of expectations
 
 
Destiny 2
Destiny Destiny 2 devs repeatedly pitched a dating sim, Bungie vets say, "but leadership was very Hard No"
 
 
Image of a series of Switch 2 accessories on a pink GamesRadar+ background.
Nintendo Switch 2 The best Nintendo Switch Prime Day deals live: I'm tracking down all the greatest Bowser-sized Switch 2 savings as they happen
 
 
Daniel Craig
Action Movies Not content with Star Wars and Marvel, Disney reportedly considered buying James Bond before Amazon
 
 
GamesRadar+ Prime Day deals badge next to Atari 2600+ and Godzilla figure holding tiny Atari on right.
Retro Prime Day retro gaming deals live
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. MSI gaming monitor on a purple background
    1
    Prime Day monitor deals are beginning today, and a new screen could spruce up your gaming setup
  2. 2
    Not content with Star Wars and Marvel, Disney reportedly considered buying James Bond before Amazon
  3. 3
    Star Wars: Galactic Racer proves that roguelikes and racing are "a match made in heaven"
  4. 4
    Despite memory price hikes, Samsung sells a Switch 2 SD card for just $40
  5. 5
    Hideo Kojima says his pitch for OD sounded "crazy" to every publisher except Xbox

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...