Thor: Love and Thunder will see Natalie Portman reprise the role of Jane Foster. Only this time, she will join the pantheon of MCU heroes, wielding Mjölnir as The Mighty Thor. However, despite now having a superhero identity and super powers of her own, it sounds like everything is not all well with Jane.

In a report from The Direct, it is stated that Thor: Love and Thunder will find Jane “secretly struggling with a terrible hardship” that she is only "able to conceal so long as she's wielding Mjolnir." This description of the character’s circumstances seemingly confirms once again that Thor: Love and Thunder will find Jane Foster battling cancer. How this storyline will fit into the same overall comedic tone as Thor: Ragnarok remains to be seen...

Director Taikia Waititi must have found a way, as Natalie Portman was thought retired from the role of Jane Foster. And yet Waititi was able to persuade her back with Thor: Love and Thunder. The actress says she was “excited” to make a comeback and revisit the character in a whole new superhero persona.

“I was so excited by what Taika [Watiti], Chris [Hemsworth], and Tessa [Thomspon] did in Ragnarok... it just makes you smile the whole time... [Love and Thuder] seemed like a great opportunity to revisit the character and see her expand as a Super Hero herself."

Related: Why Loki is the Strongest MCU Series

Jane Foster’s Hardships Have Been Hinted at via Official Merchandise for Thor: Love and Thunder

Thor: Love and Thunder - Natalie Portman
Marvel Studios

Created by Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman for Marvel Comics, Jane Foster’s The Mighty Thor is diagnosed with breast cancer following the deaths of her husband and son in a car accident. Initially unidentified, Jane picks up Mjolnir and takes possession of Thor’s powers. However, Jane's use of the hammer stops her chemotherapy from working, perpetuating her cancer each time she transforms and putting her in a very difficult situation.

Official merchandise has hinted that Thor: Love and Thunder will carry this storyline over into live action. “Suffering from cancer, astrophysicist and Thor’s ex-girlfriend, Jane Foster, visited New Asgard and her life was changed forever,” a description alongside the merchandise said. “Mysteriously, the broken pieces of Mjolnir, the hammer of the thunder god, transformed her into the Mighty Thor and gifted her the superpowers of Thor, to battle threats internal and external. Wielding Mjolnir herself, she had become a godly protector and a new hero was born!”

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder finds Thor attempting to find some semblance of inner peace. The hero though must return to action and recruit Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster—who has become the Mighty Thor—to stop Gorr the God Butcher from eliminating all gods. Written and directed by Taika Waititi, and starring Chris Hemsworth, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Jaimie Alexander, Taika Waititi, Russell Crowe, Natalie Portman, Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper, Thor: Love and Thunder will be released in the United States on July 8, 2022, as part of Phase Four of the MCU.