Following that of Sam Raimi Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessthat of Taika Waititi Thor: Love and Thunder is right around the corner to pick up some potentially exciting plot threads based on the early appearances and trailers we’ve seen so far. Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder has experienced a lot of character growth since his debut in Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2011 as one of the original Six Avengers.
Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster is back in a role that looks refreshingly more important than in the first two films, with Christian Bale’s surprising role as main antagonist Gorr maximizing the already high level of appeal the Marvel sequel has to its generous audience. There are many moving pieces coming together in one story, but here are the broad strokes to get the full context of what challenges Thor and company will face before them in Love and Thunder.
Post-Final Game
During the massive crossover event at Marvel Studios Avengers: Endgame, fans saw Thor emotionally disordered and endure a lot of guilt over a self-perceived failure to stop Thanos. Bending into his depressing mental and physical state through comedic relief was certainly a bit tactless in places, but he was happily put back on a path of healing and self-discovery by the end of the film.
Tho left New Asgard’s leadership to Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie and embarked on a galactic adventure with the Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s a convenient way for Thor to take a step back from the incredible responsibility that comes with succeeding his late father, Odin – and as an Avenger – to continue some soul-searching. According to the appearance of Love and Thunderhis time with the Guardians of the Galaxy seems to be a brief setup before entering the grander plot.
Those already known with the MCU, and more specifically with Waititi’s previous work on the character in Toro: Ragnarokshould have no problem slipping into the tone of what Love and Thunder will be. It seems to have a cheerful but more clearly 80s feel and aesthetic to it while injecting a romantic element with the return of Jane Foster. This film will continue Thor’s quest to find inner peace and renewed self-esteem after the entire aftermath of the Avengers level.
Power Bull
Of course, one of the big selling points of this quarter Toro film is not just Foster’s return after a couple of vile roles in the original film and Thor: The Dark World. Love and Thunder will see her return in the form of the Mighty Thor, which is about as grand of return as possible.
Both she and Valkyrie will team up with Thor to face a new threat, but the inclusion of Mighty Thor will also take a clear page from one of her biggest comic book stories. Waititi will adapt certain narrative aspects of Jason Aaron’s career on the Power Bull a series in which Jane accepts the superhero cloak struggling with cancer diagnosis and the resulting therapies.
It’s a deeply intimate condition, and it will hopefully be appropriately heartfelt and effective in Love and Thunder. Seeing her character properly incorporated in this sequel should be satisfying to see play, as well as much more interesting. a dynamic character between Jane and Thor under more emotional circumstances.
And since the events of 2018 Avengers: Infinity War, Thor seemed to make his Stormbreaker ax his new signing weapon while Mighty Thor uses a refined version of his old hammer Mjolnir. Jane’s new suit also looks like a great interpretation of her comic counterpart, complete with the noren-inspired helmet.
More than just a one-dimensional love interest, Portman’s role as Mighty Thor in the upcoming film will certainly be one to watch as Kevin Feige and the rest of the Marvel Studios bosses plan the MCU’s near and distant future. .
Gorr the God Butcher
After Portman’s return to the MCU fold and in a bigger role than ever, Christian Bale’s debut in this cinematic universe as the villain Gorr the God Butcher is undoubtedly the next most exciting element of Love and Thunder. This will be the first appearance of the British actor in the comic book / superhero genre since the end of his celebrated tenure as Batman in Christopher Nolan. The Dark Knight Trilogy.
Gorr the God Butcher is a relatively new addition to Thor’s rogue gallery in the comics, where his debut appeared. Thor: God of Thunder number 2 in 2013 courtesy of creators Aaron and artist Esad Ribić. As his name and title imply, Gorr has a lifelong resentment against the gods of the universe, believing them to be selfish and worthy of exterminating the world.
In the comics, he came from an alien race on an unknown planet that was brutally uninhabited, leaving his kind to live in misery. He was expelled from his tribe for not sharing their otherwise unanimous fervent faith in the gods. Gorr initially did not believe they existed, but his boiling hatred for them arose when he discovered that not only did they actually exist, but they were not the charitable champions of the oppressed that his tribe believed them to be.
Following the deaths of his mother, lover, and children, Gorr set out on a genocidal quest to hunt down all the gods who later set him against Thor. He takes up All-Black the Necrosworda weapon used by Knull, who was the ancestor of the Symbiotes (Venom, Carnage, etc.), but it remains to be seen whether this sword will have ties to that side of the Wonder Universe.
Bale is widely known for his high-class acting chops and is equally known for accepting transformative roles – sometimes literally. The design of his character for Love and Thunder looks like a deliciously inventive take on the comic version, and seeing Bale pour his talent into this villain should be a curiosity.
Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder premieres in theaters on July 8th.
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