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Marvel fans will finally get to see Thor Odinson in Marvel Studios' Thor: Love and Thunder, after three years, six Disney+ programmes, and five theatrical blockbusters. While it's true that Thor 4 promotion is still in its early stages, what the studio has released thus far has been remarkably insightful, particularly in terms of Chris Hemsworth's Thor's current state and the return of Natalie Portman's Jane Foster as Mighty Thor.
For example, the first trailer reveals that Thor is doing some soul searching and may be on the edge of retirement. Jane as Mighty Thor carrying a reforged Mjolnir was shown in the teaser.
While the second teaser for Thor 4 revealed more of Chris Hemsworth's Thor, the same cannot be said for Jane and her new forceful identity.
Because of these revelations, as well as the fact that Love and Thunder is Hemsworth's fourth MCU solo film, fans have speculated whether Natalie Portman will be the MCU's next Thor. Now that the second trailer has been released, director Taika Waititi has spoken out about the theory.
Marvel Director Reacts to Portman's Thor Replacing Hemsworth
Love and Thunder filmmaker Taika Waititi replied to popular rumours that Natalie Portman might replace Chris Hemsworth as God of Thunder in an interview with Total Film, saying, "I don't think that's the case:"
"Also, the thought that Thor possesses Stormbreaker, that massive axe, and now his hammer is back in the hands of someone else is a lot of fun. It's not his hammer anymore. It's the notion that someone is stepping in for him. I believe many fans will assume, 'OK, this is the handing of the mantle...' I don't know about Marvel's future intentions, but I don't believe that's the case."
Along with Thor considering a new path and Jane gripping Mjolnir, the film's second trailer featured a scene in which Thor reaches for Mjolnir only to have it rocket back into Jane's hands.
Audiences are understandably concerned about Hemsworth's future as Thor Odinson, given this particular choice of iconography and Disney+'s passing of the mantle to new heroes like Sam Wilson and Kate Bishop.
Waititi's remarks, on the other hand, back up Hemsworth's assertion that Thor is still too young to retire.
Waititi also addressed queries about Thor 4's comic book inspirations, stating that the film "very closely follows Jane's tale" from Jason Aaron's The Mighty Thor comics, and that "we're trying to take the best aspects of it:"
"We stay quite tight to Jane's plot and what happened to her because she had such tremendous impact on the movie. We're attempting to extract the most beneficial elements from it."
While the MCU has traditionally tended toward adaptation rather than copying when it comes to comic books, it's worth noting that Jane gets diagnosed with cancer in Jason Aaron's plot. While the hammer keeps her alive, it hastens her demise, and she picked Mjolnir in the first place because of Thor's absence from Earth.
Will Thor be the Last Original Avenger?
The fact that director Taika Waititi confirmed that the film "very closely follows Jane's narratives" reveals a lot about what to expect from Thor 4.
If Jane from Love and Thunder took up the hammer owing to Thor's absence and to her own peril, then the God of Thunder's soul-searching detour has consequences, and this heroine, like Christian Bale's Gorr the God Butcher, is facing enormous stakes.
While Waititi's statements indicate that Hemsworth's Thor isn't on his way out, it appears that Jane has taken his place on Midgard. That should add to the intrigue when the film explores New Asgard, which has appeared in both trailers thus far.
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Thor is one of the remaining original Avengers still active in Marvel's Phase 4 because he isn't being replaced in the MCU. Bruce Banner's Hulk is one of the few remaining characters from the 2012 lineup now that Hawkeye has seemingly passed on his mantle.
If Banner passes the mantle to Jennifer Walter's She-Hulk on Disney+ later this year, Hemsworth's Thor Odinson may be the last Avengers remaining.
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It'll be intriguing to watch how his latest film affects his development and identity in Marvel's Phase 4 tale, and fans won't have to wait long to find out.
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On July 8, Thor: Love and Thunder will be released in theatres.