Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige opens up about Thor's future in the MCU after Thor: Love and Thunder. The fourth Thor film sees Taika Waititi return to the director's chair, and the role of Korg, after helming 2017's Thor: Ragnarok. Chris Hemsworth once again steps in to play the god of thunder, who is joined by his old flame Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and the aforementioned Korg to battle Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), a villain intent on wiping out all gods. Love and Thunder will also feature the Guardians of the Galaxy, with Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper all working on the film.
Thor: Love and Thunder is the fourth outing for the hero, making him the first superhero within the Marvel Cinematic Universe to receive a fourth solo-movie. Given Hemsworth's long tenure with the character, having portrayed him since 2011, many have speculated on Thor's future in the MCU. The larger franchise shows no signs of stopping, with new shows like Ms. Marvel and more obscure characters like Echo getting their own spinoffs, but whether Thor has a place in the expanding universe remains to be seen.
In the latest issue of Total Film (via GamesRadar), Hemsworth and Feige both speak about the character's future. While Hemsworth seems open to returning, Feige backs the sentiment with vague references to the character's comics history. As president of Marvel Studios, Feige has never been one to rule anything out, and he even mentions that many more Thor stories have been discussed. Check out Feige's comments on Thor's potential return below:
I know this: there are many, many other Thor stories in the comics that we talk about a lot, and as we watch Chris Hemsworth continue to grow and evolve as a major acting talent, I would be excited to see how he keeps evolving this complex character.
Audiences don't yet know how Thor: Love and Thunder will play out, as it creates the potential for various outcomes. Given that Jane Foster becomes Mighty Thor, following along with a comic book storyline, the film may be seen as a passing of the torch. However, Jane's presence may also see Thor presented with the perfect opportunity to retire from the hero game with her, as the film's title emphasizes the potential for romance. The more bleak outlook would be that Gorr is ultimately successful, sending Thor or Jane to their deaths. Still, under the right circumstances, no hero ever seems to truly be dead in the realm of comic book properties.
Thor: Love and Thunder is set to release on July 8, giving eager audiences their first chance to see the film. Hemsworth's MCU Thor future is still unknown following Love and Thunder, and while Feige and the actor may be hinting at more down the road, their comments could also be an act of subterfuge to misdirect those hunting for spoilers. Despite what the character's ultimate future ends up being, audiences are only weeks away from his highly anticipated return in Thor: Love and Thunder.
Source: Total Film (via GamesRadar)
