A long-awaited teaser trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder finally dropped. Marvel and the wonderful Taika Waititi (the film’s writer and director), bestowed the 1 minute and 30-second video for the world to salivate over. However, it wasn’t until the last ten seconds of the trailer that we got our first official look at Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor. And it was worth the wait.
Natalie Portman, who plays astrophysicist Dr. Jane Foster, last appeared in an MCU movie eons ago in 2013’s Thor: The Dark World. Jane and Thor’s breakup and Jane’s death/return after the Blip were all mentioned by other characters while she, sadly, remained off the screen. Now, Jane Foster (and Natalie Portman)—looking jacked and wielding Mjølnir like she was born to do it— are back! Here is what we know about how Dr. Foster became the Earth’s Mightiest Avenger.
The Source Material
Jason Aaron’s run of the Thor and Mighty Thor comics heavily inspired Thor: Love and Thunder. In that story arc, Thor Odinson lost the ability to lift his hammer. Thor’s loss created a power vacuum, leaving the worlds open to conquest by Frost Giants and Dark Elves.
Mjølnir remained on the surface of the moon. It called out to Jane Foster, wanting her to take the mantle, complete with powers and giant arms, of Thor. Jane answered, becoming the Mighty Thor. Jane kicking sexist villains’ butts is a highlight of the Marvel comics.
However, Jane Foster also had health issues to contend with. Diagnosed with breast cancer, and undergoing chemotherapy, left her very weak when she wasn’t the Mighty Thor. Dedication to others kept Jane transforming, even though it may make her illness worse and bring her closer to death each time she holds the hammer.
How the MCU Might Play Out
As we know, the Marvel movies don’t always match up with the comics. From the trailer, we saw Thor going on a spiritual journey to find himself. This means he left the Nine Realms, including Earth, without his protection, like in the comics. Maybe the weakness draws in the new villain, Gorr the God Butcher, who comes for the known gods.
The biggest question mark is the hammer. In the current MCU, Hela shattered Mjølnir, and it remained broken for Thor. Yet, the hammer reformed somehow. (The cracks on the hammer show it is the original Mjølnir and not a hammer from an alternate timeline like in Avengers: Endgame.) Did another god put it back together?
Or did it pull together on its own? In the comics, people question if the hammer is sentient or not. It seemed to know there always must be a Thor protecting the Nine Realms. Maybe it calls to Jane because of her connection with Thor. Possibly, Jane may be in New Asgard seeking treatment for an illness (like cancer or perhaps something caused by her exposure to the Reality Stone in Thor 2), and her proximity brings it back to life.
I have been pining for this movie since Taika Waititi presented Natalie Portman with Thor’s hammer during Comic-Con 2019. Already, I know this movie won’t disappoint me. Seeing Natalie Portman ripped like a goddess makes me feel conflicted. I’m not sure if I want to be her or if I want her to carry me off to New Asgard. Either way, the July 8th release date seems way too far away.
(feature image: Marvel)
