Why Thor 4 Being "Crazier" Than Ragnarok Is Perfect For Phase 4

Thor: Love and Thunder potentially being crazier than Thor: Ragnarok will work the best for Phase 4 of the MCU and will see Chris Hemsworth return for his fourth standalone film as the God of Thunder while reuniting with director Taika Waititi. This is on the heels of the massive success of their first team-up in 2017's Ragnarok which single-handedly revamped the Avenger's image and made him a fan favorite.

Announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Thor: Love and Thunder is Waititi's second MCU film, and he's planning on making it bigger than his last. Initially, only Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson were announced for its cast, as well as Natalie Portman who reprises her role as Jane Foster in the franchise. But, over the months since then, it has grown into an ensemble with more actors joining the projects such as Christian Bale, who is playing Gorr the God Butcher, the story's main villain, and Russell Crowe as Zeus. Production has wrapped in Australia for quite a while now with set photos revealing clues as to what to expect from the blockbuster. Still, Marvel Studios has been silent about plot specifics.

While Waititi is unable to get into actual plot details, he recently revealed that Thor: Love and Thunder will be "much crazier" than Ragnarok. That's saying something considering that the 2017 film has already been one of the most outrageous films in the MCU, with many moving pieces in it. But, the filmmaker pushing the envelope should actually be for the best. The universe is currently in a transition period following the end of the Infinity Saga. Based on Disney+ series like WandaVision and Loki, the public is ready to embrace a different kind of storytelling from Marvel Studios. Whether that's experimenting in new formats or elsewhere, the important thing is, the viewers are looking for something different than what they have seen in the universe's first decade. So, Waititi upping the ridiculousness and taking more risks for Thor: Love and Thunder is a good sign for that.

At this point in the MCU, the franchise has established a firm base that is deeply invested in where the universe is going. This gives Marvel Studios the creative wiggle room to be more daring with their projects. Granted that it has done exceedingly well in the past, the franchise is also not without its naysayers; one of the most common criticisms it has received is the MCU’s formulaic storytelling. It has broken the mold in several big-screen projects and producing TV content forces Kevin Feige and his team to think about new ways to execute their planned narratives. On the big screen, it needs to be a more conscious effort to do this, and filmmakers like Waititi, who has a unique moviemaking style, would be very helpful.

MCU Phase 4 is a precarious point in the franchise's history as it will determine the far future of the franchise. Thor: Love and Thunder is in a unique position since it has one of the universe's oldest and most popular heroes at its center, which means people are already looking forward to the next chapter of his story. Add to that Thor: Ragnarok's success, Waititi's emboldened move to make a crazier follow-up is the best approach to the Hemsworth standalone.

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