According to The Associated Press, Stuart Townsend has exited Kenneth Branagh’s Thor at the 11th hour – over creative differences. The Irish actor had been cast in the role of Fandral, one of the Warriors Three, along side Ray Stevenson, and Tadanobu Asano.

Townsend has already been replaced by Joshua Dallas, a largely unknown actor who recently appeared in the horror sequel The Descent: Part 2, and also has a role in George Lucas’ upcoming Tuskagee Airmen drama “Red Tails” and in 2008 appeared in the Doctor Who story Silence in the Library.

Townsend’s exit represents the second time that he has left a project at the last minute, the actor was replaced by Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy under similar circumstances.

While above is the “official” story, according to a rumor dropped over at AICN,

Stuart Townsend has been fired from THOR due to showing up 6 hours late for a screen test. If this does come to be true, this would be the second high profile fantasy role he’s lost after having been announced as landing the part. The first being the role of ARAGORN, which the public reason for losing the role was that they decided “he was too young” for the role.

[RANT]

Playing the hypothetical game, let’s assume the above rumor about him being 6 hours late for a screen test were true – now, if he were just some unrelaible schmuck (which he may or may not be).. I would’ve fired his ass too. On the other hand, if he were an impeccable actor with a long history of reliability (ahem) but he were six hours late because he was home in bed with his girlfriend (see below)… as a man, I’d have to give him a pass. By that same token, how would you like the daunting task of having to go home and inform Charlize Theron that you’re a big idiot and just got fired from a huge blockbuster movie because you forgot to set your alarm?

Thor had been scheduled for release May 20, 2011, but Marvel recently bumped it up to May 6, 2011.