Kenneth Branagh thrilled for Thor 2 (From Knutsford Guardian)

Kenneth Branagh thrilled for Thor 2

11:52am Friday 20th January 2012 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2011

Kenneth Branagh has revealed he's excited to see Thor 2, even though he's not directing it.

The actor-director - who won the Supporting Actor Of The Year award for his turn as Laurence Olivier in My Week With Marilyn at the London Film Critics' Circle awards - directed the first instalment of the superhero franchise, but has made way for Alan Taylor to direct the highly-awaited sequel.

"I look forward to seeing Thor 2," he said on the red carpet at the Critics' Circle Awards.

Kenneth, who previously said he would love to work on Thor 2, insisted he had too much on his plate to return to the director's seat.

"It was a timing issue. I was ready to commit to a few things that I had been involved with for some time - The Painkiller, a play I did in Belfast, and another series of Wallander for the BBC, and I wasn't able to do everything," he explained.

"And so I went back to things I had previously been connected with."

Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston have confirmed that they will be reprising their roles as Thor and Loki respectively, along with Idris Elba as gatekeeper Heimdall.