Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok is gearing up to change the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some substantial ways, and one of the most significant changes will come in the form of Cate Blanchett's Hela -- the first ever female big bad in a Marvel movie. That said, her gender is far from the only notable thing about this Goddess of Death, as it seems that her motives run deeper than some fans might have anticipated. CinemaBlend and other outlets spoke to Blanchett about Hela's motivations last year during a set visit, and she explained that her rage mainly stems from her imprisonment due to Asgard's fear of her. Blanchett said:
Well she's been banished for a very long time... under the Asgardian Stairs, for 5,000 years. You'd be a little bit cross. But I think it's very interesting to bring the concept of Death into a world that's ostensibly immortal. You know, you look at the Western world and in most cultures, Death has been banished from the world in which, you know, most Western people live. And as a result, I think it's made life rather screwed up.
So, based on what Cate Blanchett had to say about Hela's motivations, it doesn't necessarily sound like she's a traditional, mustache-twirling baddie. In Thor: Ragnarok, she's angry because the Asgardians feared her (because they didn't understand her), and banished her away "under the Asgardian Stairs." She has unresolved issues with Thor's people, and that adds a nice layer to the overall dynamic that extends beyond a mere desire to conquer.
The possibility of a far more personal grudge between Hela and the Asgardians also has us wondering about a fan theory that recently popped up online about Odin. Specifically, the theory suggests that the Allfather may die by Hela's hand, and an Infinity Stone in his possession may subsequently become her ultimate weapon. We don't know if this is true or not yet, but it adds a nice personal touch to the potential death that could give it even more emotional resonance -- if it happens.
Elsewhere during the conversation with Cate Blanchett, she specifically mentioned that Hela becomes more powerful based on the amount of destruction that she causes. Given the fact that it looks like Thor will have to face off with her at the very end of his journey through space, we can reasonably assume that he will need all of the help that he can get. At least we know he will have Hulk, Valkyrie, and (maybe?) Loki by his side in the battle. Revengers!
Check out a recent trailer for Thor: Ragnarok below to see even more of the chaos, destruction, and death that Hela's return will invoke.
Cate Blanchett will make her grand debut into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Hela when Thor: Ragnarok premieres in theaters later this year on November 3.
