Thor: Ragnarok’s Unused Fire Demon Concept Art is Pure Nightmare Fuel
Concept artist, Ian Joyner, gives fans a look at an unused Fire Demon design for Thor: Ragnarok. The third film in the Thor franchise follows the God of Thunder as he tries to prevent the prophesied Ragnarök. At the center of this prophecy is Lord of the Fire Demons, Surtur. It is foretold that he will grow as big as a mountain (not a house) and destroy Asgard after his crown is reunited with the Eternal Flame.
The beginning of Thor: Ragnarok sees Thor imprisoned in Surtur’s realm of Muspelheim. Thor mocks/interrogates Surtur about Ragnarök while dangling upside down in chains. Eventually, our hero does “what heroes do”: busts out of his chains, easily disposes of Surtur’s minions, and knocks that “tiara” off of the Fire Demon’s head. The sequence, set to Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” is one of the film’s many memorable moments. Afterward, Thor stashes Surtur’s crown in Odin’s vault (not far from the Eternal Flame).
The minions Surtur summons to defeat Thor are creatures made of dark magma/flames. They're Fire Demons not unlike Surtur himself. Ian Joyner, a concept artist who worked on Thor: Ragnarok, recently posted a terrifying picture of a Fire Demon to Instagram. The design below is slightly different than the one used in the final film.
All of the characters and mythology established in Thor and Thor: The Dark World are revitalized in Thor: Ragnarok courtesy of director Taika Waititi’s signature irreverence. The film was a spiritual reset for the Thor franchise, and its opening sequence serves as a mission statement. We’re introduced to a quirkier Thor, one who banters with skeletons and doesn’t take himself or his enemies too seriously. For example, Surtur and his minions are inspired by Surt and the Fire Giants from Norse mythology. The Ragnarök they bring about not only destroys Asgard but also the cosmos. The film's Surtur is more of a joke than an actual threat. He only destroys Asgard by himself because Loki purposely places his crown in the Eternal Flame (to defeat Hela).
What’s important about Thor Ragnarok’s opening scene are Thor, Surtur, and how they interact. Thor doesn’t take Surtur seriously, so neither should the audience. The waves upon waves of Fire Demons are merely canon fonder. Unlike Thor: Ragnarok, Joyner’s detailed concept art puts a Fire Demon on full display, allowing Surtur's minions to fuel nightmares the way myth intended.
Source: Ian Joyner