Tessa Thompson Playing Valkyrie In ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ — Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban Join Cast, With Cate Blanchett Playing Villain Hela

Tessa Thompson’s role in Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok has finally been revealed as Valkyrie, and a number of other actors have officially been confirmed to be in the film along with the Creed actress.

'Thor: Ragnarok' Characters Explained, from Hela to Valkyrie https://t.co/SDYbMSwray

— Collider (@Collider) May 20, 2016

The heroine Valkyrie first appeared in The Avengers #83 and is an Asgardian by birth. Valkyrie, who is also known by her real name Brunnhilde, was selected by Odin to be the leader of the Valkyrior, with Valkyrie being the strongest of them all. The character could also be serving as the film’s main love interest for Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, with the series’ previous love interest Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman, not having a role in Ragnarok.

The Hollywood Reporter confirms that both Jeff Goldblum and Karl Urban have joined the cast for Thor: Ragnarok as well. Goldblum hinted at the possibility that he would be in a superhero film earlier this year in April, while speaking with Josh Horowitz of MTV News. Now it’s been confirmed that Goldblum will be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as one of the ageless Elders of the Universe, The Grandmaster.

Karl Urban will be playing a warrior from Asgard named Skurge, also known as The Executioner, who initially was written to be a supervillain that wielded a magic double-bladed battle axe. In the comics, the character at one point aligned himself with the heroes of Asgard and helped delay Ragnarok — a major Apocalyptic-type event — while sacrificing his life. It doesn’t seem to be confirmed whether or not Skurge will be on the side of good, evil, or somewhere in between in Thor: Ragnarok.

Cate Blanchett: HELA
Karl Urban: SKURGE
Jeff Goldblum: GRANDMASTER
Tessa Thompson: VALKYRIEhttps://t.co/RKsQuOTKcF pic.twitter.com/VTaydM2pRB

— ComicBook NOW! (@ComicBookNOW) May 20, 2016

Actress Cate Blanchett has finally been confirmed to be part of the cast, playing the classic villain Hela, ruler of Hel and Niffleheim and a regular foe of Thor. The official press release for Thor: Ragnarok has been released by Marvel and can be read below.

“Two-time Oscar®-winner Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine, Carol, Cinderella) joins Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok as the mysterious and powerful new villain Hela, along with Jeff Goldblum (the upcoming Independence Day: Resurgence, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Jurassic Park) who joins the cast as the eccentric Grandmaster, Tessa Thompson (Creed, Selma) who will bring the classic hero Valkyrie to life on the big screen, and Karl Urban (Star Trek trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King) who will add his might to the fray as Skurge.

“Rounding out the cast for the film is three-time Oscar®-nominee Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight, The Kids Are All Right, Foxcatcher), reprising his role of Bruce Banner/the Hulk from Marvel’s The Avengers and Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.

“‘The continuation of the epic Thor franchise will be powerful and unique, and with the additions of Cate, Jeff, Tessa, Karl, and Mark to the cast we have the makings of his most dangerous and heroic adventure yet,’ said Producer Kevin Feige. ‘The sheer, raw talent each of these actors brings to the screen can’t be quantified. Having any one of them join the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be an honor, and having all of them is incredible.’

“Thor’s new cast members join returning stars Chris Hemsworth (Rush, In the Heart of the Sea, Ghostbusters) in the title role for the fifth time; Tom Hiddleston (Crimson Peak, The Night Manager, Kong: Skull Island) as Thor’s adversarial, adopted brother, Loki; Golden Globe® and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Idris Elba (The Dark Tower, Luther, Beasts of No Nation) as the Asgardian sentry, Heimdall; and Academy Award®-winner Sir Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs, Nixon, Hitchcock) again portraying Odin, Ruler of Asgard.

“Thor: Ragnarok, the third installment of Marvel’s popular Norse Super Hero, is directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Taika Waititi (Two Cars, One Night, What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople). Kevin Feige will produce the film, joined by executive producers Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Thomas M. Hammel and Stan Lee.”

Jaimie Alexander, who plays Lady Sif in the series, has not been announced to be returning due to scheduling conflicts with her NBC show Blindspot, although that doesn’t ultimately mean she won’t be appearing in the film. The Warriors Three, played by Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, and Ray Stevenson, have also yet to be confirmed as part of the cast for Thor: Ragnarok.

[Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images]