Idris Elba has joined the cast of Marvel’s highly anticipated Thor film. Elba has been cast in the role of Heimdall, who is based loosely on the god Heimdall of Norse myth. He is the brother of the warrior Sif and the all-seeing, all-hearing guardian sentry of Asgard who stands on the rainbow bridge, Bifrost and stands watch for any attacks to Asgard, defending the city’s gates from any intruders, and is one of the most trusted servants of Odin.

Elba previously starred in Obsessed, The Unborn, RocknRolla, Prom Night, American Gangster, and he also appears on “The Office”. Elba will also star in Dark Castle’s adaptation of DC/Vertigo’s The Losers.

Thor also stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Jaimie Alexander, Colm Feore, Samuel L. Jackson, Stellan Skarsgård, Stuart Townsend, Ray Stevenson and Tadanobu Asano and is being directed by Kenneth Branagh.

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Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada and writer Brian Michael Bendis have sent some tweets out regarding their set visit for Thor.

Quesada said:

“I could listen to Branagh talk about Thor all day long, Cast is in place, sets are being built and screenplay is brilliant. Marveldom rules!”

and Bendis added the following:

“Broadcasting live from marvel west. Thor movie meeting with Ken branagh was over the top amazing. Visited the sets! I was in Odin’s chamber!”

“U should get in line for the Thor movie today. Just saying.”

THOR is currently set to start shooting in January with a release date scheduled for May 2011