Thor: Love and Thunder had no shortage of deities when it first arrived last year, but if anyone was going to steal the show from Chris Hemsworth’s god of thunder, it was none other than Zeus himself. Portrayed by Virtuosity’s Russell Crowe, this version of Zeus sported his signature lightning bolt, a toga that left little to the imagination, and a very Greek accent.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Crowe explained why he wanted to use that accent, as originally, the film producers insisted that he speak in a more neutral tone that was more reminiscent of his role as Maximus in Gladiator. Crowe described that accent as “Royal Shakespeare Company two pints after lunch” to director Taika Waititi, and he pitched his version of Zeus as being closer to his Greek origins.
“I said to Taika, you cannot make me do this in an English accent. I want to do this as a Greek guy. Zeus is a Greek god, he’s no other god from any other civilization,” Crowe said.