Thor: Love and Thunder appears to be adapting the Jane Foster cancer storyline from the comics. Jane Foster was first introduced as The Mighty Thor in Thor #1 in October 2014, yet her identity remained a secret at the time. When it was revealed that it was Jane Foster wielding the power of the God of Thunder, the revelation that Foster was diagnosed with cancer was also confirmed, and every time she used the hammer Mjölnir, she purged the chemotherapy treatment from her body.

After skipping out on Thor: Ragnarok, Natalie Portman was announced to be returning to the Thor franchise in Thor: Love and Thunder by director Takia Waititi, in which she would become the Mighty Thor. Waititi has drawn heavily from Jason Aaron's Thor comics run, including the film's main villain, Gorr the God Butcher, set to be played by Christian Bale. It was during Aaron's tenure on the Thor comics that the Jane Foster's cancer storyline was first introduced, and many were left wondering if Waititi would adapt this element to the film and how that would play with the director's more comical take on the material.

Related: Why Thor: Love And Thunder Is The Most Exciting MCU Movie Of 2022

It now appears to be confirmed that Thor: Love and Thunder will have Jane Foster diagnosed with cancer. In an online listing on Eaglemoss for a replica of The Mighty Thor helmet worn by Jane in the film, the description officially confirms that her character is diagnosed with cancer. The description reveals that, while visiting New Asgard, the fragments of Thor's hammer Mjölnir give Jane the power of Thor. The official description can be read below:

"Suffering from cancer, astrophysicist and Thor’s ex-girlfriend, Jane Foster, visited New Asgard and her life was changed forever. Mysteriously, the broken pieces of Mjolnir, the hammer of the thunder god, transformed her into the Mighty Thor and gifted her the superpowers of Thor, to battle threats internal and external. Wielding Mjolnir herself, she had become a godly protector and a new hero was born!

With the help of Thor, Valkyrie, and the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Mighty Thor was faced by the powerful Gorr, the God Butcher. With divine powers himself, Gorr was driven to rid the universe of gods wherever he found them. Battling cancer in her human form and Gorr in her godly form, Jane Foster was embroiled in an epic struggle with plenty of love and thunder!"

Comic artwork of Jane Foster as Lady Thor.

Jane Foster receiving her powers from the broken pieces of Mjölnir in New Asgard align with Thor: Love and Thunder behind-the-scenes set footage from 2021, which featured Portman being filmed in some type of windstorm on a set resembling a shrine to Odin where the fractured pieces of Mjölnir were. While Portman's Foster has not been seen in the MCU since 2013's Thor: The Dark World, the character was referenced in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron as a leading physicist and is likely a well-regarded figure in the MCU. Her cancer diagnosis and her trip to New Asgard open up the possibility for a bittersweet reunion with Chris Hemsworth's Thor.

Foster's cancer diagnosis creates some interesting potential ramifications for Thor: Love and Thunder and the wider MCU. If the film's storyline sticks to the comics, then every time Jane uses her powers she will become sicker, and Waititi's Love and Thunder could see Jane's death (as per the original Thor comics). This means that Portman might not be coming in to become the new face of the Thor franchise as, for example, Anthony Mackie is with Captain America. Instead, this may be a one-off narrative that will allow Thor and Jane to have some much-needed closure and give these two star-crossed lovers one final story together. This may see Thor: Love and Thunder ending in a much sadder way than many would expect.

Next: Why Jane Foster Wields Broken Mjolnir In Thor: Love & Thunder

Source: Eaglemoss

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