Alexander Skarsgård, best known for his role as the vampire Eric Northman on “True Blood,” has signed to star opposite Taylor Kitsch in Battleship. Peter Berg is directing the board game adaptation.
According to the Heat Vision Blog, Skarsgard will play a straight-arrow naval officer, the older brother of Taylor Kitsch’s wild, rebellious character. Berg’s sea-faring adventure will center on a clash between a fleet of warships and water-bound aliens called “The Regents.” Which means lines like, “Hit! You sunk my X7-A Super Hedullinium Star Cruiser! Oh, zxonks.”
Skarsgard broke into the American entertainment industry with HBO’s “Generation Kill” miniseries before sliding over to play the menacing vampire sheriff. As a clear sign he was looking to make a move into tentpole movies, Skarsgard screen tested for the role of Thor in Marvel’s upcoming origin story, but the part ultimately went to Chris Hemsworth. Somehow.
It’s a shame he didn’t wind up becoming Thor because this casting news means he’s playing second fiddle to a young teen who has yet to impress (full disclosure: I haven’t seen “Friday Night Lights.”) Here’s hoping Skarsgard uses this to find more roles around town.
