Anthony Hopkins Hammers Back at Thor Critics

Veteran actor wants world to know filming on comic book flick going just fine, thank you very much

Do not piss off Hannibal Lecter the father of the gods.

Anthony Hopkins has issued a terse statement smacking rumors of trouble on the set of Thor—specifically that the Oscar winner is making life hell for director Kenneth Branagh and star Chris Hemsworth.

"I am having the time of my life making Thor with Ken and Chris. They have made every day immensely fun and collaborative, and we're all puzzled that someone would fabricate a story suggesting otherwise," said Hopkins, who plays Thor's father, Odin. "I'm proud to say that Thor has been one of the great experiences of my career."

And for anyone who thinks differently, he's got some fava beans and a nice Chianti for you.

Earlier this week, the New York Daily News, cited one anonymous insider who claimed Hopkins went off on Hemsworth (best known as playing James T. Kirk's ill-fated dad in last summer's Star Trek), voicing "disapproval of Chris' acting skills."

The report also alleged Hopkins was irked that so much of the filming was not being done on location but instead in front of green screens in Hollywood studios.

"He isn't used to this kind of work, and his pessimism is really starting to wear everyone down," the insider claimed, adding that Branagh found the alleged complaints particularly grating.

For his part, Branagh shrugged off the rumors of tension, telling the Los Angeles Times Wednesday that shooting is "going very, very well."

"We're in New Mexico now where we have a contemporary Earth part of our story. I guess we're two-thirds of the way through the story and at this stage of the game what's surprising and delighting me is the way the cast, the ensemble, has fused together," the actor-director said.

"It's kind of an interesting combination of very young and very experienced people and the double-up of that, it seems to me, is there is a lot of fire in the movie. It doesn't take itself too seriously—it doesn't try to be too solemn."

He also hailed the Welsh-born Hopkins as "an extraordinary actor with his Celtic passion and incredible technique" and noted he's played a pivotal role behind the scenes keeping things humming along.

Thor, which costars Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings and Rene Russo, unspools May 6, 2011.