Channing Tatum No Longer Up for 'Thor'

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Channing Tatum won't be seen trading his G.I. Joe's weaponry with Thor's hammer as he stated he is out of the running to play the lead in "Thor". The 28-year-old who will soon be seen starring as Duke in "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra" has confirmed the matter to MTV News during a press event for his other upcoming film, "Fighting".

Explaining why he is no longer in the run for the role, the Teen Choice Award's 2008 best movie actor simply said, "I think they're looking for someone more Nordic-looking." On the occasion, he also fessed up that he was indeed interested in the part and had gone as far as meeting with director Kenneth Branagh for it.

Since Marvel came up with a public casting-call for "Thor", speculations of who will play the titular character have hypened. Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hiddleston, Liam Hemsworth and Joel Kinnaman reportedly had tested for the titular role, while Alexander Skarsgard was said to be Branagh's first choice for the part. When MTV pursued Tatum over the casting rumors, he claimed to have no clue whether Skarsgard or other actors have been offered the role.

An adaptation of the comic book franchise launched in 1962, "Thor" will be set in modern time. It tells the story of disabled medical student Donald Blake, whose alter ego is a hammer-wielding Norse god Thor. Natalie Portman has been linked to take the female lead, while Josh Hartnett was rumored to play villainous Loki. Paramount Pictures will distribute this superhero film, which script is provided by screenwriter Mark Protosevich, in theaters across the U.S. on May 20, 2011.