Thor 4: Chris Pratt Pleads With Chris Hemsworth To Stop Working Out

Thor: Love and Thunder star Chris Hemsworth posted an intense workout picture on Instagram earlier this week, and now co-star Chris Pratt has responded, asking Hemsworth to dial it back. Pratt plays Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, in the MCU. It has been confirmed that Star-Lord will appear in Thor 4, though it's unclear how big his role will be. Last time we saw Thor and Star-Lord onscreen in Avengers: Endgame, they were on board the spaceship Benatar, bickering about who would pilot the vehicle.

Not much is known about the plot of Thor: Love and Thunder yet, but if it picks up soon after the events of Endgame, it makes sense that Thor and Star-Lord are together. But one exciting thing we know for sure is that Natalie Portman will be returning to the franchise as Dr. Jane Foster—and she'll eventually wield Mjölnir when she becomes Mighty Thor. Portman last appeared in 2013's Thor: The Dark World, which had a lukewarm reception. It seemed like Portman was done with the MCU after that film, so the announcement of her return at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 was a huge surprise. Now, Portman is training for her role in Love and Thunder, and she says the workouts have been super tiring.

Judging by the picture Hemsworth posted on Instagram, it seems like his workouts are similarly difficult. He didn't specifically mention in his post that he's training for Thor 4 but it seems pretty likely, given that filming is set to begin in January 2021. The photo, which shows Hemsworth flipping something he calls an "extra large donut," but which is actually a giant foam tire that likely weighs somewhere between 175-220 pounds, is definitely intimidating—even for his co-star Pratt. Pratt commented on the image, writing:

"Hey bud. Just heard from my trainer and he needs you to stop working out since we're gonna be in the same movie and everything he doesn't want me to stand next to you if you look like that so I'm gonna need you to put on 25 lbs real quick cool thanks."

Chris Pratt comments on Chris Hemsworth's workout photo

The tongue-in-cheek response is in keeping with Pratt's image as a formerly chubby dude who got ripped for his role in Guardians of the Galaxy. Pratt lost over 70 pounds for the role, but that didn't stop Rocket (Bradley Cooper) from calling Quill "one sandwich away from fat" in Avengers: Infinity War. During that scene, Drax (Dave Bautista) and Rocket compare Quill's physique to Thor's, telling Quill that Thor is far more muscular than him. Apparently, that wound hasn't yet healed, and Pratt is jokingly worried about another comparison in Thor 4.

It's a funny exchange between the two actors, but it does dredge up an issue many people pointed out when Infinity War was first released: in the film, Quill is clearly in very good shape and doesn't deserve the ribbing from Drax and Rocket. Paired with Endgame making a joke out of Thor's weight gain, the MCU doesn't have the best track record when it comes to body positivity. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, at least at one point, had a different take on things; in 2014, Gunn said, "I liked [Pratt's] performance so much that even if he stayed chubby I knew that we’d have to go with it; it would just have to be a new take on a superhero who was a little bit heftier … because his characterization was so great." That kind of acceptance is a refreshing change of pace, especially for a superhero film. Pratt's self-deprecating comment is an easy joke to make but, hopefully, Thor: Love and Thunder will maintain that sense of humor without putting anyone down.

Next: Thor 4 Theory: Why Endgame's Fat Thor Won't Return In Love & Thunder

Source: Chris Hemsworth