Russell & Brake Join "Thor: The Dark World"

Clive Russell ("Sherlock Holmes") and Richard Brake ("Batman Begins") have joined the cast of Alan Taylor's "Thor: The Dark World" says Deadline.

Alan Taylor directs the sequel that is on a larger scale than the first film with double the amount of Asgardian characters and the inclusion of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) battling more mythical Norse creatures.

Brake will play a captain in an elite squad of warriors known as the Einherjar. Russell will play Tyr, Asgard’s god of war and the older brother of Thor.

Tom Hiddleston who plays Loki will return as will Natalie Portman playing Jane. Kat Dennings will reprise her role as Darcy Lewis, the spunky sidekick to Portman's from the first film. Jaimie Alexander is returning to play Sif and Idris Elba will be reprising the role of Heimdal. ‘Chuck’s’ Zachary Levi is lined up to replace Josh Dallas who will not reprise his role as Warriors Three member Frandral Anthony Hopkins will be back playing Thor's pops. Christopher Eccleston will play the villain--the character of Malekith The Accursed, is the ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim and has magical abilities including teleportation, energy projection, flight, and shape changing ability. He also has a weakness to iron which cancels out his powers. Eccleston takes over from Mads Mikkelsen who was originally slated to play the part but had to pass due to scheduling issues with the Hannibal TV show.The great Alice Krige ("Star Trek: First Contact," "Silent Hill") will play the Dark Elf queen Alflyse

"Saving Private Ryan" scribe Robert Rodat is set to perform a re-write of the sequel. First Thor co-writer Don Payne had written the first draft.

Production is underway to meet a to Nov. 15, 2013 release date.