Taika Waititi says that Thor: Love and Thunder will make Thor: Ragnarok looks safe. Chris Hemsworth will be back to reprise his role as the God of Thunder for another standalone movie, making him the only MCU character to have four solo projects. Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie will also return, as well as Natalie Portman as Jane Foster whom people haven't seen in the franchise since Thor: The Dark World. This time, she's expected to play a more prominent role in the narrative as she becomes Mighty Thor.

Announced at last year's San Diego Comic-Con, the anticipation for Love and Thunder is high, thanks to what Waititi delivered in Ragnarok. Admittedly, Marvel Studios struggled with their depiction of the God of Thunder on the big screen especially with the problematic The Dark World. Things turned for the better when Waititi came in and flipped the sub-franchise on its head, singlehandedly rebranding the character and his movies with a more humorous and fun approach which people liked. Love and Thunder may still be almost two years away, but Waititi is already teasing on what to expect in the movie.

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During a watch party for Ragnarok, Waititi offered fans some insight on the creative process behind the movie. He also talked about the future, including Love and Thunder. While he can't obviously reveal significant story details like whether or not Loki (Tom Hiddleston) will make an appearance, he jokingly shared a sneak peek of the movie's script, as well as some genuine new pieces of concept art. He did say, however, that what he's planning for the upcoming Phase 4 movie will make Ragnarok seem "safe."

Taika Waititi and Chris Hemsworth Thor Ragnarok

With not much context, fans can interpret this statement in whatever way they want. Understandably, some might get nervous about this since pushing the envelop creatively in Love and Thunder could backfire, especially those who weren't particularly fans with what he did in Ragnarok. That being said, Waititi is known for his odd narratives and quirky type of humor - after all, this is the guy behind the award-winning movie, Jojo Rabbit. So, it might be best at this point to hold off any judgement until the final product is out. If anything, Waititi essentially made Thor cool, and fans should be optimistic about what he's up to in Love and Thunder.

As the MCU attempts to reinvent itself following the end of the Infinity Saga, the franchise needs to take bolder risks to sustain their popularity. Waititi being willing to try new things that are out of the norm is a sign that Marvel Studios is trying to do this. Granted that it can ultimately backfire if Thor: Love and Thunder turns out to be bad, most would appreciate them looking to operate outside of their beaten three-arc formula. The franchise is already so well-established that they can move past a potentially bad creative choice, and if the film turned out to be another smash hit like Thor: Ragnarok, it could motivate them to continue being innovative with their projects.

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Source: Taika Waititi

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