Chris Hemsworth Bulked Up Too Much for His ‘Thor’ Costume

Here's a problem most people will never have to deal with: being too buff to play a god.

Chris Hemsworth did, though, as he prepared to play the title character in Thor, the next movie adaptation of a Marvel comic book character. The 27-year-old Australian actor had to get into serious shape to play the hero inspired by Norse mythology. But went a little too far.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Hemsworth revealed that he bulked up so much to prepare for the role that he couldn't fit into his costume. When he tried on Thor's armor for a final camera test right before shooting was to begin, it was way too tight.

Hemsworth said that while wearing the restrictive, long-sleeved costume, "[My] hands started going numb... And I started getting pins and needles and you'd touch the skin and the blood wouldn't return to the area so quick." Apparently, in the three months between being measured for the costume and the final test, his added muscle made the suit so tight it cut off circulation.

See movie photos from 'Thor' >>

After that, Hemsworth said that the costume was altered along with his exercise plan. He said director Kenneth Branagh told him, "Let's try to pull it back just a little bit, otherwise it's too blocky." Hemsworth subsequently changed his diet and his workout routine, focusing more on cardio exercises instead of weight training.

Last July at ComicCon, Hemsworth told BuzzSugar that he packed on 20 pounds in preparation for the role. He said, "It was purely eating, eating, eating, working out and working out, trying to sleep as much as you can -- that's the other third of the equation." Back then, Hemsworth said that he cut down on the eating and subsequently dropped about 15 extra pounds. But he told the L.A. Times that, "I'm putting it back on now for The Avengers." That movie -- which will team Thor up with Iron Man, Captain America, and the Hulk -- is reported to begin filming next month for a summer 2012 release.

Hemsworth is at CinemaCon, the annual gathering of movie exhibitors, to receive the "Male Star of Tomorrow" award on Thursday. The convention also featured a presentation Monday night of scenes from both Thor and Captain America, the two Marvel movies coming this summer. ComingSoon.net wrote, "Overall, the footage we were shown was terrific... we think both movies are looking to be on par with the first 'Iron Man.'"

Thor opens on May 5. Watch the trailer for the movie below.