Taika Waititi’s latest installment unveils an electric new look at the film!
By Zan Haider
Firstly, to whomever took this picture and uploaded it onto the Internet, I only have this to say:
Our first new look at the God of Thunder’s latest installment is nothing short of absolutely electric. We see Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, front and center in the poster.
He looks mentally and physically healthy, which is a stark change from his character in Avengers: Endgame. He also appears to be at the height of his powers (per his eyes) which subtly implies that he may need that when facing Gorr the God Butcher, the main villain! He is sporting new gear: navy blue, gold, silver, and red Asgardian armor– but that’s not all for outfits! Thor also wears what appears to be wielding Stormbreaker, wearing a Viking-inspired silver belt, all on top of a regular unbuttoned shirt and jeans. This perfectly matches the aesthetic of the Guardians of the Galaxy (who will appear in this film) and matches the badass, warrior aesthetic that encapsulates the God of Thunder. However, that belt is of notice– it could possibly be Megingjord (referenced in Spider-Man: Homecoming). In the comics, Thor utilized Megingjord to double his strength, powers, and durability, and those perks would be vital when facing Gorr. However, Christian Bale’s Gorr is nowhere to be seen in this poster.
We also see multiple familiar faces here! Taika Waitit’s Korg is a welcome return, wearing Viking-inspired fur, armor, a belt with a goat-head, and a pistol of sorts. Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie is seen in a blue-caped, new black-and-silver Asgardian armor, which makes sense, seeing as she is the Queen of New Asgard.
We see two new characters, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder. In the comics, these two mystical goats pulled Thor’s chariot throughout the cosmos, but I gotta say, I love how the MCU has put a spin on the goats, making them more festive and silly than their comic counterparts (at least, visually). Hopefully, my dream of an animal-based Avengers team comes to pass! Come on, Feige. You know you want to.
However, the biggest returns to the film are Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster as Lady Thor– and the seemingly repaired Mjolnir. Seeing as Lady Thor and Mjolnir take the majority of the poster’s space, it would be safe to assume that yes, they will play a major role in the film.
In the comics, Jane Foster was diagnosed with cancer, but was able to wield Mjolnir when Thor was no longer worthy, thus saving her life. It appears to be seen whether the film will follow this exact same story arc, but Natalie Portman wouldn’t have returned if the character wasn’t utilized in a meaningful fashion. Portman stated to Vanity Fair:
“I can’t tell you that much. I’m really excited. I’m starting to train, to get muscles. If there can be all these female superheroes, the more of them they are, the better it is.”
The final pieces to notice are Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, pulling a chariot carrying Korg, Valkyrie, Lady Thor, and Thor. When considering the space-galactic-inspired color scheme in the poster, I would guess that traveling through the cosmos to find Gorr is a safe estimate for the plot!
The characters of Thor, Jane, Valkyrie, and Gorr may be lighter and more lively than their comics counterparts, as per the MCU’s stylistic formula, but Taika Waititi has proven his ability to combine humor with heart. When taking into account that Gorr has a hatred for the gods, as they refused to help his family (in the comics), and that Jane and Thor broke up (in the MCU), I find it hard to imagine a story where the faults of the gods are not covered. Furthermore, the MCU has begun to create legacy characters (such as Sylvie, Kate Bishop, Sam Wilson, Lady Thor, and Miles Morales [tentative pitch from Tom Holland]) and Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster perfectly fits the MCU’s direction. This film should be one of the MCU’s highlights!
Thor: Love and Thunder releases in cinemas on July 8, 2022!
I’m hoping that with the multiverse breaking, we see Christen Haydensen’s Anakin Skywalker observe Jane and Thor together. Who doesn’t want to see Darth Vader vs Thor, for the fate of the misidentified Padmé? As bonkers and, well, stupid that would be, Disney owns both Marvel and Star Wars. Who knows? It would be an excellent post-credits scene!!
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