Tessa Thompson says she's leaving for Australia this coming Monday to reprise the role of Valkyrie in the MCU's Thor: Love and Thunder. Thompson debuted as Valkyrie, the only remaining member of her elite Asgardian band of warriors, in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, directed by Taika Waititi. She reprised the role in Avengers: Endgame, taking part in the climactic battle against Thanos and taking on the role of leader of New Asgard at the movie's conclusion. Thompson's return for Thor: Love and Thunder was confirmed when the movie title was announced in 2019.

Waititi will return to helm the fourth solo outing for Thor, with Chris Hemsworth reprising his role as the God of Thunder. Christian Bale will play villain Gorr the God Butcher, while Natalie Portman will return to the MCU as Jane Foster, in a plot based on the comics storyline which sees Foster assume the mantle of Thor while battling cancer. The movie will also feature a host of characters from Guardians of the Galaxy, with Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista and Sean Gunn all arriving in Australia on Friday to shoot the film.

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Talking on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote her latest release Sylvie's Love, Thompson was immediately asked by the host whether she was in Australia to shoot Thor: Love and Thunder yet. Thompson says she isn't but will be leaving on Monday, January 11 to fly to Australia for the movie. She adds that she'll then have to undergo two weeks of quarantine in a secure government facility before she is able to move freely around the country, saying that given the country's handle on the pandemic it will be weird to return to "normal" life. You can read her full comments below:

I leave to Australia on Monday, so in a couple of days. People are going to movies and dinner. It feels like an alternate universe. I’ve sort of forgotten what all those things are like. But yeah, things are under control. So I get there, you get escorted by police to a quarantine facility for 14 days while you’re monitored and then once you’re out it’s sort of things back at somewhat normal. 

With Thompson arriving on Monday, and a number of other cast members already in Australia, it's clear that Thor: Love and Thunder is on the verge of shooting. The large ensemble cast is a sign that this will be the most ambitious solo Thor movie to date, and will likely setup Guardians of the Galaxy 3, given that the cast will appear in Love and Thunder. What role Valkyrie will play in the plot is unknown, though Thompson did confirm last year that she is still the ruler of New Asgard when the story picks up.

Fans who are excited that Thor: Love and Thunder is finally rolling cameras in a matter of weeks will have to temper their enthusiasm, as the MCU film will only get released in May 2022. Like so many other movies, the release date was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, with filming having also been pushed back. Thankfully, Australia has the virus largely under control, and so production will be able to go ahead smoothly once the American cast have all cleared quarantine.

Next: Love & Thunder Villain Can Introduce MCU’s Old Thor

Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live!

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