How Exactly Mjolnir Returns In Thor: Love & Thunder

Warning: This post contains MAJOR spoilers for Thor: Love and Thunder

Thor: Love and Thunder brings back Mjolnir, now wielded by Dr. Jane Foster — but how exactly does it return and why did it choose Jane as Thor’s successor? The Marvel Cinematic Universe is now three years into its post-Avengers: Endgame phase, with Love and Thunder marking the fourth solo outing for the God of Thunder. The MCU film brings back Jane Foster, as well as the previously destroyed Mjolnir, which was shattered into pieces by Thor’s sister Hela in Thor: Ragnarok.

After the loss of Mjolnir, Thor ventured to Nidavellir to forge Stormbreaker, which was considered one of the greatest weapons in Asgard history. Thor has been wielding Stormbreaker since Avengers: Infinity War and uses it in the final battle against Thanos. He’s grown to love his new hammer as much as his old one, though there is some jealousy between the two weapons as Stormbreaker competes for Thor’s affections in Thor: Love and Thunder. When it was announced that Thor’s fourth solo film would bring back Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, many wondered how she would come to wield Mjolnir as Mighty Thor. Love and Thunder explained how she came to possess the Asgardian weapon, its shattered pieces kept under protection in New Asgard.

Mjolnir has a long history in the MCU. It had a brief return in Avengers: Endgame — which saw Captain America wielding the mighty hammer after it was brought back from the past during the Avengers’ time heist — but Thor: Love and Thunder brings Mjolnir back for good. Here is how Thor’s hammer makes a comeback, why it chose Jane, and how Thor is able to keep it despite it shattering once more at the end of the film.

How Exactly Mjolnir Returns In Thor: Love & Thunder

With Jane sick with stage four cancer, Mjolnir communicated with her telepathically, leading her to scour the books on Viking mythology. This led Jane to New Asgard, where the broken pieces of Mjolnir were held. Up until this point, no one had used Mjolnir — not even Thor, who likely believed that nothing could put the destroyed hammer back together. Jane’s arrival in New Asgard woke up Mjolnir, allowing it to reform to transform Jane into Mighty Thor. it was waiting for Jane all along, somehow sensing her hopelessness and knowing that she was struggling with her cancer diagnosis.

How Thor's Oath Brings Back Mjolnir

While it seemed like Mjolnir was done for good, its oath to Thor is what brings back the mighty hammer. When Thor and Jane are still dating, Thor asks Mjolnir to always protect Jane no matter what. This oath alone speaks to the deep connection between Thor and Mjolnir, which rarely finds others worthy of wielding it. To keep its promise to Thor, the hammer calls to Jane telepathically, guiding her back to New Asgard. The shattered pieces of Mjolnir react to Jane, who is transformed into Mighty Thor once in possession of the weapon. Although imperfect, Mjolnir was protecting Jane in the only way it knew how — which was turning her into Mighty Thor and bestowing her with the power of Thor.

Thor: Love and Thunder showed how Mjolnir was still connected to the God of Thunder despite being destroyed and Thor off on his galactic adventures with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Mjolnir can physically transform people and, unable to cure Jane’s cancer, did the next best thing by protecting her from it for a while, empowering her in a way she didn’t feel before. Not only were the ties between Mjolnir and Thor still powerful enough that it would ensure the oath was upheld, but Love and Thunder also confirmed how strong the love between Thor and Jane still was after so long. So strong were all of these connections that Mjolnir overcame its own destruction to be reborn, which is an impressive feat.

How Thor Can Keep Mjolnir After Love & Thunder

Natalie Portman as Mighty Thor and Chris Hemsworth as Thor

Thor: Love and Thunder doesn’t really explain it, but it’s possible the broken shards of Gorr’s necrosword, which Mjolnir absorbed to prevent the blade from reforming, are keeping it together somehow. Perhaps it has the opposite effect. The necrosword, when complete, can kill any of the gods, but it’s possible the pieces can maintain a god’s weapon when destroyed. Conversely, it could be Thor telling Mjolnir to protect Jane at all costs created a magic that overcame its destruction by Hela. With that logic, Mighty Thor’s death at the end of Thor: Love and Thunder didn’t necessarily mean Mjolnir would also die along with her.

Rather, fulfilling its promise to Thor likely meant its second chance at life continues on after Jane is gone. After all, it’s unlikely Mjolnir would just go back to being shattered just because Jane died. The hammer’s life — like Jane — got a second chance and, considering the strength it took to bring itself back from destruction, Mjolnir wouldn’t go quietly. It’s fitting, however, that Thor’s hammer doesn’t return to him. Now that Stormbreaker is around, Thor’s weapon of choice is sealed. And since the God of Thunder made a vow to always protect Love, Gorr’s daughter, it’s possible Mjolnir continues its promise of protection on Thor’s behalf, shifting from Jane to Love.

Would Jane Foster Really Be Worthy Of Mjolnir?

Since Jane’s transformation into Mighty Thor was due to her cancer and Mjolnir upholding Thor’s oath, her being a worthy possessor of the hammer wasn’t really up for debate in Thor: Love and Thunder. However, Jane’s heart was pure and her goals as a scientist were to help others understand the universe better. Even in the last months of her life, Jane kept working because she believed she still had time to do more. This alone makes her worthy to wield Mjolnir. Her Mighty Thor arc in the comics is further proof that Jane is indeed worthy of the hammer.

In the comics, Thor lost the ability to wield Mjolnir. In the aftermath, the hammer called to Jane — just as it did in Thor: Love and Thunder — and she responded. She was able to lift Mjolnir without any effort, as though it was naturally meant to be carried by her, and became Mighty Thor. While Mjolnir felt the need to protect Jane at any cost in Thor: Love and Thunder, the hammer also saw potential in her to do good. Once endowed with the powers of Thor, Jane proved a powerful ally, her kind heart guiding her as she fought alongside Thor and Valkyrie. Her good-natured spirit and actions over the course of her MCU run more than prove her worthy of wielding Mjolnir — cancer or no cancer.

Next: How Scary & Violent Is Thor: Love & Thunder?

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