Kenneth Branagh has responded to critics of his decision to direct the film adaptation of comic book Thor - saying "it's good for life to be full of surprises".

The actor, who's known for his roles in Shakespeare adaptations such as Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet, added: "And as an artist it's nice to surprise yourself."

But he actually believes that his involvement in Thor is nothing out of the ordinary.

"It's got everything that I love - a hero who is headstrong and reckless, a young man who's forced to confront his past and deal with a complicated relationship with his father. I thought, 'Well, isn't that kind of the story of Henry V?'

"You could say I started in superhero films, the only difference in my previous ones is that people talk funny."

:: Thor is released in cinemas on Wednesday, April 27.