Why is Thor: 4 Most Important Phase 4 Film for Marvel

No phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ever compared to Phase 4 of the MCU in its fourteen-year history. Despite the fact that it only started in January 2021, it already boasts a slate of five theatrical features, five live-action Disney+ series, and the animated What If...? Apart from Ms. Marvel on Disney+, Chris Hemsworth's fourth solo MCU film, Thor: Love and Thunder, is the next project on the horizon.

Despite the fact that Phase 4 has been an embarrassment of riches in terms of content, one of the main fan complaints has been the lack of interwoven storyline, which is a Marvel Studios trademark.Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was widely expected to serve as the thesis for the MCU's Multiverse Saga and the connecting thread amongst its diverse slate of projects. However, when this was not the case, many became dissatisfied and even questioned whether there was a strategy in place this time.

Given the current promotion for Thor: Love and Thunder, it appears that those crucial Phase 4 connections are now being made through a film worthy of the cause.

How Thor: Love and Thunder will affect Phase 4?

Thor: Love and Thunder, which will be released on July 8, will follow the God of Thunder after the events of Avengers: Endgame, and will include Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher.

Despite the fact that Thor 4's marketing campaign has only recently began, certain elements and details from the film's promotional stills and two trailers either directly reference or have the potential to reference prior Phase 4 films.

Could Thor: Love and Thunder, perhaps, be the most important MCU Phase 4 film to date?

Each Phase 4 film or Disney+ series that Love and Thunder either references or lays the stage to explore is listed below.

Is Thor 4 a prequel to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?

Courtesy: Marvel

Starting with the most obvious, Thor 4 is linked to the Guardians of the Galaxy because Star-Lord and the rest of the crew have already been announced as part of the cast.

Thor passed the rule of Asgard to Valkyrie before joining the Guardians aboard the Benatar at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Thor 4's debut trailer gave fans a sneak peek at their intergalactic travels and relationships, as well as Thor's motivations for taking a different route.

While the Guardians' participation in Love and Thunder is unknown, it's probable that the July feature will set the stage for Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 in 2023, as well as the Guardians' impending Holiday Special.

Is Thor 4 a Foreshadowing of Black Panther 2?

Courtesy: Marvel

The Black Panther franchise's future was uncertain following Chadwick Boseman's death. When Marvel Studios, together with the original supporting cast and director Ryan Coogler, agreed to continue through with the sequel, the question of whether there would be a new Black Panther arose. And, if that's the case, who will it be?

While that answer has yet to be revealed, a promotional still from Thor: Love and Thunder suggests that the goddess of Bast or Bastet will appear in the film. Bast is the creator of the heart-shaped purple herb that grants the Black Panther his abilities.

Given this information, Thor 4 appears to be doing some heavy lifting in terms of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's heritage and mythology; perhaps Bastet will find another means to imbue a Wakandan with superpowers?

Will Thor 4 Reveal the Mythology of the Moon Knight?

Because this film will focus on gods and goddesses, it's probable that Moon Knight's Egyptian mythology, as well as Khonshu, Taweret, and Amit, will be mentioned or linked in some way.

For example, Russell Crowe's Zeus, along with Valkyrie and Jane Foster, has already been seen attending a type of council or audience of the gods in Love and Thunder. It would make sense for Egypt's fabled gods and goddesses to be present if Bastet, the Black Panther's Bastet, is also present.

Will Kingo and the God of Thunder be reunited in Thor 4?

The story of Celestials, Eternals, and Deviants appeared a little out of left field when it premiered in late 2021. Fans are now eagerly anticipating a project that will finally unify and explain the MCU's spiritual and otherworldly beings' hierarchy.

Again, since Thor 4 appears to be bringing the many gods and mythologies together, viewers may learn about where Celestials fit into the equation and how they relate to Zeus, Odin, Bastet, and others.

In terms of the Eternals themselves, Kumail Nanjani's Kingo makes several references to Thor, even implying that they know each other.

Could fans expect a reunion between Kingo and Thor, as well as any new Eternals?

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Will Thor meet Disney+'s Loki Variant ?

Courtesy: Disney +

While Chris Hemsworth's fourth solo picture does not appear to be a Multiversal film, Loki is Thor's brother, and there has yet to be a God of Thunder film without the God of Mischief. Although the MCU's main God of Mischief is no longer alive, another Variant roams the Multiverse, one who is actively entangled with TVA in Loki.

The issue is that the current Loki is trapped in a different reality, and this Variant hasn't witnessed the redemption of The Dark World, Ragnarok, or Infinity War alongside his brother.Still, these brothers are overdue for a reunion, and given how bizarre this fourth picture is expected to be, no one should bet against director Taika Waititi going for it.

It's also worth mentioning that Loki is already mentioned in the upcoming film via Thor's back tattoo. It's unclear whether this is foreshadowing.

Now, if Loki doesn't make the Love and Thunder call sheet, he's a strong candidate for a post-credits sequence, especially considering Loki Season 2 begins filming on June 6 with a summer 2023 release date in mind.

Is There a Live-Action Version of The Watcher?

Courtesy: Marvel

Despite the fact that What If...? Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is an animated series whose characters have already appeared in live-action. Thor: Love and Thunder appears to be on the verge of doing the same.

While it doesn't appear that Thor 4 will deal with the Multiverse, the second teaser showed Jane unleashing lightning while surrounded by massive sculptures. One of those monuments is modelled after Uatu or The Watcher from the animated series.

Only the most dire situations would necessitate a live-action appearance because The Watcher is barred from interfering. Marvel, on the other hand, certainly chose this photo and his statue for a reason.

Is Thor 4 going to be connected to Sony's Venom: Let There Be Carnage?

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, get ready. Love and Thunder appears to be linked to Sony's Venom franchise, and it's all because to that iconic, yet troublesome, black space ooze.

Gorr the God Butcher of Love and Thunder will wield All-Black the Necrosword, which is a symbiote, just like in the comics. While there hasn't been much footage of the God Butcher, Gorr's Funko POP figure depicts him with black, symbiote-like tendrils beneath him, and Bale is shown with a sword in the most recent trailer.

Given that Marvel Studios does not control the rights to Venom, the question now is how the studio plans to adapt the weapon and employ its symbiotic nature.

MCU's Seven Connected Projects in Thor 4

For those keeping track, that's a total of seven Marvel projects, all of which (with the exception of Venom) are part of Phase 4 of the MCU.

Will the personal journey of Thor serve as the driving force behind Love and Thunder? Yes. Is it enough to introduce Jane Foster's Mighty Thor and Gorr the God Butcher to warrant a film? Absolutely.

However, it appears that the upcoming picture will serve not just its characters, but also the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, potentially making it the most crucial Phase 4 film yet.

Since Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014, the MCU has been exceptional in its ability to mix genres while maintaining a cohesive universe.

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Now, it appears that one of the few surviving original Avengers will be the one to put together the studio's newest stories.