As much fun as the Marvel movies are, it’s difficult to deny the possibility of things getting stale if they keep the same actors and characters around for too long. 11 years after the originalThor, Chris Hemsworth is still going strong as the titular God of Thunder. But how long will that novelty last?
According to the actor himself, it’ll last about as long as he’s willing to play the role. In adecidedly George Costanza-esque moveof leaving on a high note, Hemsworth recently revealed that he intends to eventually stop playingThor, but only when the time is right. But contrary to the ambiguous meaning some might take from that statement, it appears as though he has a pretty solid idea of what that eventuality will look like.
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In an interview with Total Film, Hemsworth spoke candidly about whether he thinks he’ll be up for continuing as Thor afterthe upcomingThor: Love and Thunder. “Each time, if the opportunity comes up and presents itself, I’m just open to whatever creative exploration can happen, thanks to different writers and directors and so on,” he said regarding his time in the role. “But I love playing the character, I really do. It always comes down to: ‘Is this script different to the last one? Are we repeating something?’ And when it becomes too familiar, I think that’s when I’d have to say, ‘Yeah, no, this doesn’t… I think I’ve…'” He then took a moment to muse and chuckle. “I’d like to exit before people tell me to exit.”
So while there doesn’t appear to be a concrete plan for the character afterThor: Love and Thunderfor the time being, the possibility of the character continuing on still seems to be on the table.Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feigealso shared some optimistic words on the matter. “I know this: there are many, many other Thor stories in the comics that we talk about a lot,” Feige said. “And as we watch Chris Hemsworth continue to grow and evolve as a major acting talent, I would be excited to see how he keeps evolving this complex character.” Thor might not be a sure thing going forward, but at least both Feige and Hemsworth are open to the idea.
It can be easy to forget just how much Hemsworth’s take on the character has changed since 2011’sThor. As a much more stoic (yet often reckless) new wielder of the mighty hammer Mjölnir, he often came across as a bit of a buzzkill compared to the rest of the Avengers. But with his third solo movie,Taika Waititi’sThor: Ragnarokin 2017, the character began to branch out into a much more laid back and wise-cracking version of himself, albeit without losing his sense of duty and regal upbringing.
It’s unclear as to how much more development Thor can go through after Waititi’sThor: Love and Thunder, which sees the powerful hero still working past some of his issues fromAvengers: Endgame. That’s not to mention the exciting prospect ofNatalie Portman possibly taking over as the new Mighty ThorinLove and Thunder. But depending on how things go, Hemsworth’s future in the role may be nearing its end.
Thor: Love and Thunderis set to release theatrically on July 8th, 2022.
