Alan Taylor, director of the new superhero sequel "Thor: The Dark World," spoke with io9 recently about how directing episodes of "Game of Thrones" prepared him for taking on Marvel's God of Thunder.


Taylor talked about keeping the film based in reality, though most of it is set in Asgard (home of the Norse gods including Thor and his brother Loki): "I think 'Game of Thrones' was critical to me being able to do this movie, and being able to feel like there is a straddling of reality and fantasy. I sort of thought that I had already been in that process [in 'GoT']."


The world of Westeros in the "Game of Thrones" series may have dragons and supernatural creatures but said the books and television adaptation have handled fantasy elements in a very realistic way: "I've always admired how much 'Game of Thrones' tries to lean away from the fantastical, so when it comes you actually really savor it. In season one, when the dragons finally turn up it's not like episode two, 'DRAGONS!' You almost don't really believe it. They don't believe in dragons in that world either. So when they turn up there's a real 'wow' quality to it. I really admire the way they handle it."


Even though Taylor is now directing superhero blockbusters, he still longs to return to Westeros as he told Zap2It: "I always plan to come back to 'Game of Thrones,' but something gets in the way," he said. "I missed Season 3 due to 'Thor 2' and I missed four due to post-production. And there's another movie I'm circling that's going to mean I miss Season 5, but I always plan to come back."


To read more about Taylor's experience directing "Thor: The Dark World" check out the rest of the io9 interview here.


"Thor: The Dark World" hits theaters, Nov 8.




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  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 8


    Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 8


    Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 8


    Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 8


    Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 8


    Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 8


    Sibel Kekilli as Shae, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 8


    Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 8


    Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister, Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 8


    Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 10


    Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 10


    Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 7


    Richard Dormer as Beric Dondarrion




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 7


    Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 7


    Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Sibel Kekilli as Shae




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 7


    Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 7


    Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 6


    Dianna Rigg as Olenna Tyrell




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 6


    Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 6


    Hannah Murray as Gilly




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 6


    Thomas Brodie Sangster as Jojen Reed




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 6


    Joe Dempsie as Gendry




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 5


    Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 5


    Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon, Kerry Ingram as Shireen Baratheon




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 5


    John Stahl as Rickard Karstark, Richard Madden as Robb Stark




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 5


    Paul Kaye as Thoros, Richard Dormer as Beric Dondarrion.




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 5


    Richard Madden as Robb Stark




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 5


    Richard Madden as Robb Stark, Oona Chaplin as Talisa Maegyr




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 4


    Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 4


    Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 4


    Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Lannister, Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 4


    Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 4


    James Cosmo as Jeor Mormont, Luke McEwan as Rast




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 4


    John Bradley as Samwell Tarley, Hannah Murray as Gilly




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 4


    Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 4


    Conleth Hill as Lord Varys, Diana Rigg as Olenna Redwyne




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 4


    Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 3


    Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 3


    Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark




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    Clive Russell as Brynden "The Blackfish" Tully




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 3


    Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 3


    Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 3


    Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 3


    Esmé Bianco as Ros




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 3


    Noah Taylor as Locke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister




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  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 3


    John Bradley as Samwell Tarly




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3


    Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lanniser, Jerome Flynn as Bronn, and Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 2


    Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 2


    Carice van Houten as Melisandre




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 2


    Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon




  • 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3, Episode 2


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