New THOR: DARK WORLD set photos reveal big battles and Lady Sif in action against new warrior creatures

While debate is still ranging about just how, shall we say, “Strange” things may get on Thor: The Dark World, production kicked off yesterday, irrespective of whether or not that rumour pans out or not.

Marvel have previously said that that new film will be spending far less time on Earth and more in the Nine Realms of Asgard, which is perfectly okay with me, as I really have a thing for hot ladies dressed like space-vikings hitting others in the face with really big weapons.

And that’s exactly what seems to be going on in these new pics. 

Whereas the previous snaps of the Bourne Wood set in England was all tranquil and serene, these (courtesy of CBM) are anything but, as they say show statuesque beauty Jamie Alexander as Lady Sif, leading her fellow armoured Asgardians in battle against a new race of creatures that’s been revealed as “marauders”.

With the inclusion of the Dark Elf Malekith (Chris Ecclestone) as the new big bad, and with what I’m seeing here, it appears that director Alan Taylor is using his Game of Thrones background to craft a tale that hews closer to Thor’s Nordic roots, which is something I find really appealing.

Kenneth Branagh did a great job in the first film of establishing the Shakespearean dynamic of Thor’s family as well as introduce the character into the larger Marvel Universe, but now it’s time to ditch the superheroics and get down to some skull-cracking mythical adventuring like only Thor can.

Thor: The Dark World is scheduled for release on November 8, 2013 and according to Marvel Studios Executive Kevin Feige is “going to take Thor literally to other worlds -It will primarily be the journey of that character, of he and Jane Foster and how the new dynamic with his father is working out, as well as what are the broader stakes for The Nine Worlds.”

Last Updated: September 11, 2012