Christopher Eccleston set to join Thor: The Dark World

Former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston is in final negotiations to join the cast of Thor: The Dark World .

The Brit actor is best known across the globe for playing the Doctor for just one year in 2005, before handing the baton to David Tennant.

According to THR , Eccleston’s currently in talks to play the lead villain in the comic-book sequel, which means he’d appear as the ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim.

It's a role that was previously offered to Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, who dropped out just a few weeks back thanks to commitments to the Hannibal TV series .

Eccleston’s no stranger to villainous roles, though, having seethed and brooded before in the likes of 28 Days Later , G.I. Joe: Rise Of Cobra , and TV show Heroes .

With Kenneth Branagh's great work directing the first Thor , and Tom Hiddleston excelling as the evil Loki, Marvel clearly love British talent, and Eccleston would be a fantastic addition to the sequel’s already impressive roster.

Thor: The Dark World is being directed by Alan Taylor ( Game Of Thrones ) and opens in cinemas on 8 November 2013.

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.