Every sensible person on earth loves Idris Elba. He’s a brilliant actor, handsome as the devil, and capable of stepping into almost any role he chooses. For proof, remember that Elba plays Heimdall, the Asgardian keeper of the Bifrost, in Marvel’s 2011 film, Thor. Elba as Heimdall was one of those moments of inspired casting that Marvel seems to produce. Off the radar and completely perfect. I suspect we’ll say this about James Spader, in 2 years.

Elba reprises the role in the upcoming Thor: The Dark World. And last week he got his own, completely bad-ass, poster.

The Dark World posters have been an interesting study in movie promotion. Starting from the re-hashed hero protecting his love surrounded by danger ‘n stuff poster, the standby for a marketing team looking to communicate everything in a single, reductive, image. That bode poorly for The Dark World. Then came the beautiful Jane Foster in her Asgard gear poster, which teased much promise. It’s always nice the to see female leads suit up and get into the action, be it natural or super in nature. The Thor and Jane in awkward mid-swing, however, left confusion in our hearts.

And now, Heimdall at guard gives hope to us all.

Anyway. As a lifetime fan of The Mighty Thor, I had very high expectations for Kenneth Brannagh’s Thor (who better to handle the pomp of Thor than the Shakespearean Branagh?). Let down considerably by that film, I’m once again hopeful for Alan Taylor’s Thor: The Dark World (who better to bring the madness of dynastic war to Thor than the Game of Thrones’ Taylor?).

I’ll never learn. But if nothing else, I’m ready to spend a few hours with Idris Elba at any opportunity.

Enjoy a Thor: The Dark World Featurette.