With the teaser trailer revelation of Natalie Portman's Thor: Love & Thunder role as the god of thunder, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Thor franchise had something to shout about, and there was no doubt who was behind that gleaming helm. It would have been more difficult for anyone else to guess.
%20(1).jpeg "Thor and Jane in Thor: Love and Thunder") |
Portman hasn't had a substantial role in the MCU since 2013's Thor: The Dark World, except from a cameo in Avengers: Endgame (which consisted of some brief voice work and repurposed footage). In 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, the Taika Waititi picture that gave the MCU's Asgardian setting its first unapologetic critical success, she was nowhere to be found.
So, what made her leave? Why are you returning? It's possible that Marvel forgot about her and is now playing catch-up.
Portman's earliest attempts to leave the Marvel Cinematic Universe reportedly began during the early phases of preparing a sequel to Thor, when she was considering taking a multi-year vacation from acting to spend more time with her first child, who was born in 2011. According to reports at the time, Marvel sweetened the deal by involving Portman, who was already a filmmaker with ambitions to do more, in the decision-making process.
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Patty Jenkins, the director of Monster, was in talks with Marvel that year, and a contract was reached that would have made her the first woman to direct a Marvel feature. And Portman, an activist, a proponent of greater diversity in Hollywood, and a woman who has talked publicly and eloquently about how male-dominated cinema confines female characters, was energised by her role in the first.
Even though the film had yet to settle on a script, Marvel and Jenkins parted ways only a few months later, citing "creative differences." Marvel replaced Jenkins with Alan Taylor, who would go on to establish herself in the world of film superheroes with the phenomenally successful Wonder Woman ( Terminator Genisys).
It would take another six years for Anna Boden to become the first female MCU co-director (Captain Marvel), and another eight for Cate Shortland to become the first female MCU sole director (Black Widow). If Jenkins had secured the job, she would still be the only woman to direct a Marvel Cinematic Universe picture about a male superhero for the foreseeable future.
With Thor: Ragnarok only a few months into principal filming, Portman told the Wall Street Journal in 2016 that Marvel had no plans to use her character again that she was aware of."As far as I know, I'm finished. I mean, I have no idea if they'll ever beg for a 'Avengers 7' sequel. But, as far as I know, I'm done; it was a fantastic experience to be a part of."
That is why Portman's attendance in Marvel's Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 was so unexpected: there had been no sign that either she or Marvel Studios were interested in reviving their connection to that extent.
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Her reappearance appears to be the result of director Taika Waititi's purposeful efforts.Unlike Ragnarok, which was written by a trio of Marvel Studios regulars before going into production, Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Sweet/Vicious, Hawkeye) wrote Love & Thunder from the ground up. That plot, and Jane Foster's enhanced part in it, is what Waititi credits with bringing her on board.
In 2019, he told Variety, "I basically suggested to her, 'Are you interested in coming back to this event, but doing something very different?'" "Nobody wants to keep saying the same thing [...] Do you really want to keep doing that if you're not a superhero in most of these movies? I wouldn't do that. I'd like to return and try something else."
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Portman appears to agree, telling ET Online ""This is very exciting!" I exclaimed when I saw the script and Jane's new role. I'm also excited to work with Taika [attached], and I adore Tessa and Chris, so it'll be great to see them again."
With the positive response to Thor: Love & Thunder's teaser, it's easy to assume that many others are excited as well.