Stuart Townsend has left the cast of Kenneth Brannagh’s forthcoming big-screen adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Thor citing “creative differences”.
The Irish born actor has been replaced, as Fandral, by relative newcomer Joshua Dallas, who recently starred in The Descent 2 and is set to feature in the upcoming George Lucas-produced Red Tails.
Townsend was famously replaced at the last minute as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, with Viggo Mortensen stepping in to portray the iconic character. Honestly speaking Viggo was definitely the better choice.
At the time Peter Jackson seemed to harbour no ill-will towards Townsend but Townsend felt noticably aggrieved at being let go one day prior to filming. Townsend’s career hasn’t been too hot post LOTR and Thor was set to be another big chance at stardom.
AICN has reported that Townsend was fired after showing up six hours late for a screen test, but the fact that the studio had a replacement ready and waiting hints at a problem that has been brewing for some time.