Natalie Portman Won’t Completely Replace Chris Hemsworth’s MCU Role, Fans Predict
A bit question with upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder is whether Natalie Portman will supersede Chris Hemsworth for the title role. Playing Jane Foster, Portman is thought to possibly take over the role of Thor when latter character stops being worthy to use Mjölnir.
Since Portman and Hemsworth are two major A-list stars, one would think there could be some tension there. After all, Portman is coming in as the seeming headliner for Love and Thunder when Hemsworth has made it clear he still loves playing Thor.
Is this really going to lead to Portman taking over the title role in future films? Based on past media analysis and fan insight, this might not be entirely the case.
Who is really the star of ‘Love and Thunder’?
On fan forums like Quora, a question keeps being posed: “Will Natalie Portman really be able to take over as Thor”? That question has some fans responding with mixed opinions about whether she could really fill Hemsworth’s shoes in the Thor role.
Others say fans should hold off on worrying since they may not have full awareness of Jane Foster as Lady Thor from the comic books. This character became very popular in that format, including some excellent writing.
Based on this source material, perhaps no one should feel concerned if Portman does take over the role. Regardless, Love and Thunder is meant as a showcase for both actors. Who really has star billing, however, is a bit up in the air.
Going by everything available about the film so far, Chris Hemsworth is still the true star of the movie. Natalie Portman appears co-billed playing Jane Foster, with the possibility of her taking on some plot points from the comic book series.
Jane Foster might have a compelling story
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According to director Taika Waititi via Insider, he hopes the Jane Foster character will fight breast cancer like in the comics. Said Waititi about this: “I think that’s a really powerful part of the books. I think it’s really cool that she’s fighting this thing and there’s two battles going on. Personally I really love that storyline, but whether it ends up in the film is yet to be seen”.
If this holds true, it could set up a compelling arc, making her journey as arduous as Hemsworth’s Thor. Doing so should quell any concerns about her not having the same temperament or crises Thor dealt with in the recent MCU movies.
Not that anyone should feel concerned about Thor being written out yet. Since Hemsworth is the star here, his story is likely going to take some precedence. It may set up a transition, if not even temporarily with Jane Foster taking over.
Perhaps Thor has had enough after everything he went through and the psychological issues he grappled with after the snap occurred.
But, will Natalie Portman take over the Thor role afterward?
Some media outlets initially reported Portman might usurp the Thor role in future MCU films. Whether this holds true depends on whether anonymous sources are really worth their salt.
At stake is Hemsworth’s time as Thor and his open wishes in continuing to play the role. Even he says he would enjoy playing Thor for more years to come. As he said himself to Variety last year: “I’d still love to do more, to be honest. And I don’t know what the plan is. I feel like we’ve opened up such a different character. I feel more energized for the possibility of where it could go. But I’ll use that in other places and other characters if it’s the end here.”
Fans think if Jane does take over, it would only be for a while since Thor would not die. Down the road, Hemsworth might take back the role in a major reveal. On the other hand, having him take the hammer back from Jane might not look good after the promise of more women superheroes becomes fulfilled.
