While we wait for what seems like an eternity to see the first footage from the highly anticipated Marvel sequel Thor: Love and Thunder, we must turn once again to merchandise from the movie for some idea of what to expect from the continuing adventures of the Asgardian. The latest merch, revealed courtesy of Twitter user @ChrisHBrasil, gives us a glimpse of not one but two Thors, as Chris Hemsworth's superhero and Natalie Portman’s The Mighty Thor raise their hammers.
Though much of the details of Thor: Love and Thunder remain a closely guarded secret, we have known for some time that Thor star Natalie Portman will return as Jane Foster. This time around, however, she will undergo a superhero transformation of her own, wielding a reforged Mjölnir and making her debut as The Mighty Thor alongside Chris Hemsworth.
Thus, we can assume that Jane’s return in Thor: Love and Thunder will take at least some inspiration from The Mighty Thor comic book run written by Jason Aaron with artwork from Russell Dauterman. The story sees Jane Foster suit up as the Asgardian hero while receiving treatment for breast cancer, with the power of Thor’s hammer both restoring her strength and stopping her cancer treatment from working, putting her in an impossible situation.
Becoming a superhero of her own led Portman to train like she never has before, for fear that she would not be able to stand proudly next to the behemoth that is Chris Hemsworth. "It's otherworldly. I also feel like I'm so un-versed in what muscles do and how they get like that, like, does the blood drain out of you when you use your muscles? He's looking good. It's a lot of pressure. I'm gonna look like his little grandma next to him," the actress said back in 2020. Since then, Portman has clearly put in the effort, with the actress spotted on set looking more than worthy of holding Mjölnir.
Thor: Love and Thunder Will Also Introduce Christian Bale to the MCU
Alongside Natalie Portman’s The Mighty Thor, MCU sequel Thor: Love and Thunder will also see Academy Award-winning actor Christian Bale join the world of Marvel as the villainous Gorr the God Butcher. Like the rest of the movie, we have yet to see the actor as the character in any kind of official capacity, but Bale’s Gorr will no doubt be thrown on a collision course with Thor after discovering that his race has been abandoned by the gods.
Directed by Thor: Ragnarok’s Taika Waititi, who has co-written the screenplay with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, Thor: Love and Thunder stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, Jaimie Alexander, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Jeff Goldblum, and Vin Diesel.
Thor: Love and Thunder is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 8, 2022, as part of Phase Four of the MCU. The first trailer for the MCU installment is expected to land closer to the release date of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.