Monster Director Jenkins Takes On Thor 2

First Published: October 13, 2011 6:23 PM EDT Credit: Paramount Pictures Caption Thor LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Hollywood has signed up its first female director for a major superhero movie. Marvel Studios announced Thursday that Patty Jenkins will direct Thor 2, the sequel to last summers hit that is due in theaters Nov. 15, 2013. Jenkins is best-known for writing and directing 2003s Monster, which earned Charlize Theron the best-actress Academy Award. Her credits also include episodes of Entourage and Arrested Development. Chris Hemsworth will reprise his title role in Thor 2 as the Norse god of thunder, with co-stars Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston also returning. The first Thor, directed by Kenneth Branagh, took in $448 million worldwide. Another female filmmaker, Lexi Alexander, made the lower-budgeted Marvel movie The Punisher: War Zone in 2008. But Jenkins is the first woman to direct a blockbuster superhero franchise. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.