In a press statement today, the principal cast set to join the third instalment in Marvel’s Thor series, Thor: Ragnarok has been confirmed.

Of course, the majority of the original cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba and Sir Anthony Hopkins are back, reprising their roles as Thor, Loki, Heimdall and Odin respectively, but there’s also plenty of new additions rounding out the film.

Cate Blanchett will be playing a new character, “the mysterious and powerful new villain Hela”, while Jeff Goldblum – next to be seen in this summer’s Independence Day: Resurgence – will be playing a character only described in the statement as the “eccentric Grandmaster”.

Tessa Thompson, arguably the breakout star of this January’s Creed, will be breathing cinematic life into Valkyrie, one of Marvel’s classic comic book heroines and, finally, Karl Urban (Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), will portray Skurge, another new character to the MCU.

Of course, Thor: Ragnarok wouldn’t be a true Marvel film without some character crossover, and in what must be one of their worst-kept secrets, it has also been confirmed that Mark Ruffalo will be reprising his role as Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk. We last saw The Incredible Hulk heading to territories unknown in a Quinjet after the events of 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, and he was notably absent from this year’s Captain America: Civil War. With Thor: Ragnarok confirmed to take place primarily in space, it’ll be very interesting to see how Banner arrives in Asgard to fight alongside Thor.

Of course, as Ragnarok is to take place in space, it’s also been confirmed that Thor’s chief love interest, Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, will not be making a third appearance. Whether Portman will come back to the franchise at a later point in time is unknown right now, but she was noticeably absent from Age of Ultron, so it doesn’t look good for fans of her character,

Thor: Ragnarok will hit cinemas on 27 October 2017 and will be directed by Taika Waititi.