Marvel Studios originally wanted Chuck star Zachary Levi to play the role of Fandral, one of the "Warriors Three" in Kenneth Branagh’s Thor, but at the last minute Levi’s cult favorite NBC series was given a reprise and he had to bow out. Now it’s Josh Dallas, who ended up playing Fandral in the original Thor, who has the conflict and has had to back out of Thor 2 because of his TV series, ABC’s Once Upon a Time.
So, according to Heat Vision, Marvel is back pursuing Levi for the role in Thor 2, which is moving quickly towards a July start to filming with Game of Thrones director Alan Taylor set to helm. Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Idris Elba, and Anthony Hopkins are all slated to return for the sequel along with Tom Hiddleston (Loki), who will be joined by another villain played by Mads Mikkelson (the Danish actor who played the heavy in Casino Royale).