Anthony Hopkins Thinks Acting In Marvel Films Is ‘Pointless’

Anthony Hopkins thinks being an actor in Marvel films is nothing short of "pointless," despite having been in them. Hopkins, 85, played Odin in three of the Thor films, first in 2011's Thor, in 2013 for The Dark World, then he returned six years later for Ragnarok. However, the Silence of the Lambs star says his experience wasn't rewarding for him as an actor.

In a new interview with The New Yorker Monday (June 5), Hopkins tells the outlet, "They put me in armor; they shoved a beard on me. Sit on the throne, shout a bit. If you’re sitting in front of a green screen, it’s pointless acting it." The legendary actor says that the MCU ultimately “swallowed” Hollywood as a whole.

Elsewhere in the interview, Hopkins thanked Thor director Kenneth Branagh’s efforts in restoring his faith in the acting industry after the first film. Recalling a conversation the duo had years ago, Hopkins says, “Branagh gave me back the chops to work. I was gonna give it up, really.” He continues to praise the director by adding, "Working with Ken was quite an injection of new energy into my life. His enthusiasm, his attitude, is so positive that he brings out the best in everybody."

Despite that, Branagh did not remain as director after the first installment of the franchise. Instead, Alan Taylor went on to direct the extremely unpopular Thor: The Dark World in 2013. Then, Taika Waititi took over directing the 2017 film Thor: Ragnarok and 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder. The 2011 film raked in $181 million domestically, while the 2013 film racked up $206 million domestically.

Thor star Chris Hemsworth also shared his thoughts about the first Thor movie. The Australian actor told GQ UK today that he can both "cringe and laugh equally at it." He said that his children and their friends gave him a brutal review. "It’s a bunch of eight-year-olds critiquing my film. 'We thought this one had too much humor, the action was cool, but the VFX weren’t as good.'" As for what he thought about it, the actor says, "I think we just had too much fun. It just became too silly. It’s always hard being in the center of it and having any real perspective… I love the process; it’s always a ride. But you just don’t know how people are going to respond."

Though Hemsworth, 39, cringes at his acting breakthrough, he found it "super depressing" hearing that filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino criticized Marvel actors being movie stars or not. Hemsworth adds, "There goes two of my heroes I won’t work with. I guess they’re not a fan of me." The way Hemsworth sees it, Marvel movies have served an important purpose. “I’m thankful that I have been a part of something that kept people in cinemas. Now, whether or not those films were to the detriment of other films, I don’t know," he says. "I don’t love when we start scrutinizing each other when there’s so much fragility in the business and in this space of the arts as it is… I say that less to the directors who made those comments, who are all, by the way, still my heroes, and in a heartbeat, I would leap to work with any of them. But I say it more to the broader opinion around that topic." With a sigh, the actor concludes, "I don’t think any of us have the answer, but we’re trying."