Thor: Love and Thunder star Chris Hemsworth is set to star in a new series on Disney+ entitled Limitless with Chris Hemsworth. The show will focus on Hemsworth's journey to unlock the full potential of his body, and provides Disney with the unique opportunity to capitalize on Hemsworth's intense fitness regimen in more ways than one.
Limitless is coming to Disney+ by way of National Geographic, which was included in 2019 as a part of Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox. It is one of two Nat Geo shows coming to the streaming service. Interestingly, both are being produced by filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, who previously collaborated with Nat Geo for the series One Strange Rock. Of course, it is Hemsworth's involvement with Limitless that is most notable, as the Thor actor already has his plate full as it relates to Disney productions.
With Limitless, Disney has doubled down on Hemsworth's workout preparation for his role in Taiki Watiti's Thor: Love and Thunder, which will see the titular hero return to his signature physical strength. Hemsworth has been lauded in the past for his commitment to his own physical health, so he is certainly an appropriate fit for a show so heavily focused on what the human body is capable of. It should be noted that Hemsworth has been in tip-top shape throughout his career. Even his shocking turn as "Fat Thor" in Avengers: Endgame was the result of practical effects. Still, Hemsworth has been training for the fourth entry in the Thor series, so Limitless marks a unique opportunity for Disney to showcase what goes into such training for its millions of subscribers.
Somewhat ironically, Limitless is a six-part limited series. Its brevity suggests that it will focus rather tightly on Hemsworth's preparation for Love and Thunder, particularly considering the delay of the film's production into January of 2021 allowed for some obvious overlap between Hemsworth's prep and the production of Limitless. Not to mention, Hemsworth is already signed on for a fifth Thor film as well. However, the show will reportedly focus on new scientific research surrounding the human body, offering insight on how humans can combat disease or resist the aging process. Hemsworth is recognized for his physical prowess, but the new series is expected to deal with his mental faculties as well, particularly his memory. With Aronofsky also on board, Limitless has the potential to be an immersive, mind-bending inquiry into the human body.
Disney's decision to profit off of Hemsworth's prep for Love and Thunder — also a Disney project — has not received as much scrutiny as some of its other recent announcements (like fears that Disney+ has greenlit too many Star Wars shows). After all, it is certainly shrewd, but it can also be read as rather chilling. If Limitless succeeds, a new window of opportunity may open up for Disney, one in which they can turn their extensive roster of performers into products just as they have comic books and fairy tales. There could certainly reach a point where this approach to development could impede upon celebrities' freedoms, rendering them commodities and nothing more. Of course, Chris Hemsworth's passion for exercise and fitness likely makes Limitless a passion project for him as well. Similarly, his commitment to the MCU and his work in Thor: Love and Thunder will make this latest glimpse into his life a treat for all fans.