Concept art from Thor: Love and Thunder has a surprising connection to Captain America. Ahead of its release in July, Thor: Love and Thunder was one of the MCU's most exciting upcoming films. It promised the returns of fan-favorite characters like Natalie Portman's Jane Foster, this time taking up the mantle of Mighty Thor. While successful at the box office, Thor: Love and Thunder received a mixed response from critics and audiences, especially compared to its predecessor Thor: Ragnarok, widely considered one of Marvel's strongest films. Still, aspects of Thor: Love and Thunder were praised, including the actors' performances and comedic moments.

As is customary for any MCU project after release, the artists who worked on the film have begun sharing concept art from early on in the production. So far, it's provided a look at alternative character designs and costumes considered for Thor: Love and Thunder, including a Gorr who was more comics-accurate than what's seen in the final movie. Other art revealed a cut Lady Sif scene where she explores an ice planet before her battle with Gorr. In the film itself, audiences see Sif only briefly. Concept art provides a fascinating look at how movies, particularly big-budget superhero features, evolve throughout the production process.

Related: Why Love & Thunder's Box Office Beat Ragnarok (Despite Worse Reviews)

Now, visual artist Aleksi Briclot has shared some additional concept art from Thor: Love and Thunder, this time depicting Thor himself. In his caption, Briclot explains the inspiration for the look. Interestingly, this includes Captain America's armor in Avengers: Endgame. Check out the concept art below:

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It's neat to see all of the different reference points Briclot used for the Thor: Love and Thunder concept art. While the details pulled from Thor's look in the comics are expected, Captain America's armor in Avengers: Endgame is a more surprising piece of inspiration. However, it works well—just subtle enough to provide an earned callback without replicating the armor exactly. As Briclot suggests, the Captain America connection ultimately makes sense considering Steve's worthiness, as shown in one of Avengers: Endgame's most widely celebrated moments.

Though this Thor look was altered for Thor: Love and Thunder, it would have been neat to see it in the final film. The Captain America-inspired armor would have served as a meaningful way to honor Steve's impact on the MCU and his friendship with Thor. Still, Thor's final look in the movie is successful and worth celebrating as well.

More: Thor: Love & Thunder Ending Explained (In Detail)

Source: Aleksi Briclot