She's baaaack! Remember Natalie Portman this way, because she's ready to transform for Marvel's Phase 4. I don't think Portman is going to get Chris Hemsworth jacked when astrophysicist Jane Foster returns as the new Thor. But she did joke about getting into shape for Thor: Love and Thunder, which was just announced to great surprise last night at 2019 San Diego Comic-Con. Check out Portman's tease of what's to come:
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) got "fat" in Avengers: Endgame, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) took over ruling Asgard, and now Jane Foster is returning and maybe getting "jacked" for Thor: Love and Thunder. What a timeline we live in.
Just the other day, Taika Waititi was confirmed to be returning to direct Thor 4. Now we have a full title, a November 5, 2021 release date, and the announcement of Natalie Portman's return as Jane Foster.
The new movie is meant to be based on Jason Aaron’s Mighty Thor comic series, showing Jane Foster as worthy enough to wield Mjolnir and taking over as the new Thor. Since Taika Waititi is making the movie, I think fans can trust that he'll put his own worthy spin on the arc. He won't let anyone down.
Last we heard, Thor and Jane had split up -- she may have dumped him, although Thor liked to see it as mutual. It was a pleasant surprise to see Jane Foster again in Avengers: Endgame, since Jane seemed to be cut from the story after Thor: The Dark World. All Natalie Portman did for Endgame was some voice-over work, but it was a clever way to introduce her back into the MCU and keep her fresh in our minds before her next return.
Natalie Portman attended the Avengers: Endgame premiere and gushed about being part of the Marvel universe. It's good to have her back. Portman wasn't included in Thor: Ragnarok and, in 2016, she basically shrugged off ever returning to the MCU, saying as far as she knew she was done:
I don't know if, maybe, one day they'll ask for an Avengers 7 or whatever. I have no idea! But as far as I know I'm done.
After that, she said she was open to a return but had no news. Sounds like she was waiting for Kevin Feige to call her agent and say they finally knew what to do next with Dr. Jane Foster.
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige announced the Phase 4 slate Saturday, July 20 at SDCC and it was mic drop after mic drop from the new Blade reboot to casting Shang-Chi to a horror focused Doctor Strange 2 and more.
Oh, and Avengers: Endgame just topped Avatar. Bam. What a weekend for Marvel. I'm so excited for Natalie Portman to return to the MCU sandbox with a more meaty role to play. Thor: Love and Thunder was announced as opening in theaters on November 5, 2021.
