Cate Blanchett to play villain in 'Thor 3'?

London: Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett is in talks to join the cast of the third installment of the Marvel movie franchise "Thor", says her co-star Mark Ruffalo.

"I saw her at the Governors' banquet and heard that maybe she was circling, they were talking to her about the part, so I ran up to her and I was like, 'Please, please, please make this work!'

"She's just one of the best, and to have her play a baddie is going to be really exciting," Mark, 48, said. Speaking to chat show host Jimmy Kimmel recently, Blanchett joked she was actually taking over the role of "Thor" from fellow Australian Chris Hemsworth.

"Chris Hemsworth is busy, so I've been working out," she had quipped. When Jimmy had asked: "Is that confirmation, or are you dodging the question?", Cate replied: "No, I'm not dodging the question! They're just substituting one Australian for another. Gender equality!

Why can't you have a female Thor?"