Thor: Ragnarok - what can we expect from the next film?

As Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston begin filming scenes for the latest instalment of the Thor franchise, Thor: Ragnarok, fans are looking forward to some apocalyptic action, adventures in a Quinjet and a new heroine.

Taika Waititi's film is the sequel to 2013's Thor: The Dark World and once again stars Hemsworth in the title role, with Hiddleston as his villainous brother, Loki. They're joined by a host of big-name co-stars, including Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum and Mark Ruffalo.

The production has already started in Australia, where ABC online reports hundreds of people turned out to watch the action in Brisbane, which had been transformed into New York, with yellow taxis and black and white police cars on set.

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The roads were closed off to traffic as extras took to the streets, although there was no action on the go, with Hemsworth and Hiddleston as Thor and Loki merely chatting on a street corner.

Producer Kevin Feige has hinted the film will take viewers "throughout the Nine Realms" with a "couple scenes" set on Earth, "so as not to turn off anyone who really wanted to see the Odinson mixing it up with humanity".

Thor: Ragnarok reportedly sees the superhero's father, Odin, banished to Earth, where he takes the form of a homeless man who preaches "the end is nigh", says CinemaBlend.

ScreenRant wonders whether the New York scenes might include a cameo from any other Marvel stars: "After all, New York is stuffed with superheroes at the moment - what with Doctor Strange, Spider-Man and the Defenders among those in-state," it says.

What we do know is that Odin is right to warn "the end is nigh", says Nick Cannata-Bowman at CheatSheet. In Norse mythology, Ragnarok signifies "the end of days", brought on by the death of numerous gods within the pantheon. "It stands to reason that the Marvel movie version will feature similarly apocalyptic stakes," he says.

There is a key role for Hulk, who takes "a cosmic road trip" with Thor, notes Cannata-Bowman, adding that a leaked image from the set shows what appears to be the Avengers' Quinjet - the aircraft in which the Hulk flew away at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron - suggesting Thor: Ragnarok will directly follow the events in that film.

It will also introduce another female Marvel hero: Valkyrie, who has the power to help the dead pass over into the next realm, chiming in with the apocalypse theme. Tessa Thompson will be taking on the role – and possibly replaces Natalie Portman as Thor's love interest.

Thor: Ragnarok is scheduled to be released on 3 November 2017.