I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend the?Los Angeles THOR: RAGNAROK Press Conference. Here’s my experience as a super newbie to this kind of thing: what was asked, what was answered, and a few post-conference selfies to boot! This was part of the #ThorRagnarokEvent I attended hosted by Disney and Marvel.
I have no problem copping to the fact that I was a #newbie for all this! Which probably explains my dorkiness and excitement over just about everything we did on this trip.
I grinned from ear to ear the entire trip and laughed a lot during the interviews. In fact, you get to hear some of that in the videos below (cringe!).
As a newbie, I have no idea if this is how the press conferences normally?work, or if this was totally different.
Frankly, I was just happy to be there!
If you’ve been around my blog for any length of time, you know I enjoy breathing the same air as Chris Hemsworth, which I lovingly refer to as #ThorAir.
Granted, it’s only happened at D23 Expo and again on the THOR: RAGNAROK Red Capet, but it’s something I will probably always be excited about.
Okay, I won’t try to play it cool:
I will ALWAYS be excited about breathing #ThorAir!
Table of Contents
Los Angeles Thor: Ragnarok Press Conference
First up were the one-on-one interviews scheduled that day.
It looked like the entire floor of the hotel was taken over by the movie with various rooms set up for interviews and green rooms for the talent.
I won’t lie- it was tempting to peek in on a few of these rooms, but of course, that would have gotten me kicked out and possibly arrested.
Even this newbie new better than to go walking in on Jeff Goldblum!
Early that morning, we spoke with Rachel House (Topaz), Karl Urban (Skurge), director Taika Waititi, and Marvel President Kevin Feige.
Afterward, we headed down to the main ballroom where the main press conference was set up.
They had pretty good organization going on; we checked in at the front desk and were given a number. The number indicated when we would be allowed into the room.
First come, first serve. You got there early then you got the best seats.
Our numbers were in the 50s which meant my seat ended up being about four rows from the stage.
What Made This Thor Different
After seeing the movie the night before (THOR: RAGNAROK review here), this was exciting to have everyone in the same room together!
The case seemed to really appreciate each other and enjoy the time they spent on the film.
That was apparent with an early question where the host asked Chris Hemsworth what made this Thor different than the others?
CHRIS HEMSWORTH:? “Taika Waititi, basically.? I think we all had a, a vision, and an idea, and a want to do something vastly different than what we?d done before, and take it to a different place.
And that meant kind of doing away with what we knew, and just reinventing it, and it all came from his crazy, wonderful brain, and his inspiration, and him pushing us every day on set, and constantly encouraging us to improvise, and explore, and take risks.
And it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I?ve ever had on a set, and a film that I feel the most proud of, just because of this – this whole team, and the collaboration, and fun we had.”
CATE BLANCHETT:? “We love you, Chris.”
Tom Hiddleston on Loki
Tom Hiddleston is one of my favorite actors, and Loki has been by far the favorite villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
He’s a trickster and he is always 2 steps ahead of the heroes, but I still find myself rooting for him to change.
There’s good in Loki, I know it!
A question was asked about the change we see in Thor on screen, and if there may be one actually happening for Loki as well?
Not truly a spoiler, but Thor is very different in this movie, and it’s not just the new haircut he gets.
(No worries- thankfully Taika put the kibosh on a new haircut for Loki, despite Tom asking for one!)
The last comment there has me laughing.
I’m going to say no, no, Loki with a beard!
Tom with a beard is just fiiiinnneee, however.
Tessa Thompson on an All-Female Marvel Movie
One of the questions for Tessa Thompson was about the likelihood of a solo Valkyrie movie.
We didn’t get an answer exactly on that one, but both Tessa, Kevin, and Chris chimed in that it was a great idea.
After you see the movie, I think you’ll agree: The Valkyrie was such a great character that we definitely need to see more of her!
Tessa went on to talk about the possibility of an all-female Marvel Movie.
We’d heard Kevin’s take on it in his interview, but I loved hearing her version of the story as well.
Hey, I heard Kevin Feige say YES to that idea, so I’m going to hold you to it, Marvel!
But it’s ok if you don’t use Mark Ruffalo’s name suggestion.
The Fe-Mengers just doesn’t *quite* work, Mark!
Ahem.
Mark Ruffalo on the possibility of a standalone Hulk Movie
Mark’s probably tired of this question, but I think his answer was pretty satisfying.
Will we ever see a standalone Hulk movie and what aspect of the character would you like to explore?
Who’s excited now?!
Kevin mentioned in a previous interview that a standalone Hulk movie would get complicated due to some licensing agreements which is why it hasn’t happened.
Hulk fans: you basically get 3 movies for that same storyline.
I think that’s a pretty good compromise, myself!
Meeting the Stars of Thor: Ragnarok
I mentioned that I was super dorking out over all this, right?
Well, as if being in the room with all these actors and actresses wasn’t enough…
IT GOT BETTER.
After the conference, the stars of the film met in the hallway and said their goodbyes to each other. I was pretty sure most of them were jetting off to another country since the premieres were just getting started world-wide.
Since I was new to this, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I soon saw fellow members of the press stop the talent, ask them a question, and (gasp) they took pictures together.
You mean I can actually maybe possibly get a selfie with them?
Oh… how about four of them?
The whole experience at the Los Angeles THOR: RAGNAROK press conference was crazy cool, so this just capped things off for me!
I was stupidly excited thinking about this event for about a week afterward. Must have been all that #ThorAir I breathed in.
Each star was extremely gracious to pause for a moment and let me tell the how much I loved the film.
And guys: I really do! I wasn’t just saying that to get the selfie- ha!
THOR: RAGNAROK opens on November 3, 2017.
MORE THOR: RAGNAROK EVENT
Hulk Size THOR: RAGNAROK Giveaway (ends 11/10)
Exclusive Interview With Taika Waititi
Exclusive Interview With Kevin Feige
Like?THOR: RAGNAROK?on Facebook:?https://www.facebook.com/Thor/??
Follow?THOR: RAGNAROK?on Twitter:?https://twitter.com/thorofficial
Follow Marvel on Instagram:?https://www.instagram.com/marvelstudios/?
Patty Holliday is a parent movie reviewer, writer, and podcaster living in the Washington, DC area. Her goal is to bridge the gap between casual fandom and picky critic with parent movie and television reviews. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.