The Norwegian people have to be a little bit bummed that their mythology has been hijacked by American superhero pop culture, with the most popular God of Thunder being Chris Hemsworth’s Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But it appears the country is ready to take back their own mythology for the upcoming fantasy/superhero film, “Mortal.”
As seen in the first trailer for “Mortal,” the film stars Nat Wolff as a Norwegian-American that finds himself struggling to suppress his burgeoning supernatural powers that clearly involve lightning. But unlike Hemsworth’s God of Thunder, Wolff’s teen hero is actually wanted by authorities for being suspected of murder in what appears to be an accidental killing because of his unknown powers. So, with the help of a young woman, the guy has to figure out what’s going on with his body, as well as figure out how the hell he’s going to be able to control it and avoid being sent to prison. Yes, this sounds like a classic superhero origin story, but it’s clear that this one is steeped in Norse lore.
In addition to Wolff, the cast includes Iben Akerlie, Priyanka Bose, Arthur Hakalahti, Anna Sedunova, and Per Egil Aske. “Mortal” is directed by André Øvredal. The filmmaker is probably best known for his work on the film “Trollhunter,” but most recently, he helmed the YA horror hit, “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.” He’s also attached to the forthcoming sequel.
“Mortal” is expected to arrive on Digital platforms in the UK on August 3.
Here’s the synopsis:
Based on ancient Norse Mythology, a young boy named Eric (Nat Wolff) must discover the origins of his extraordinary powers before he is captured by authorities hell-bent on condemning him for an accidental murder. A breathtaking and thrilling origin adventure story set in Norway.
