Making Avengers:Endgame was an epic experience for the cast and crew as they brought together two dozen films over more than 10 years into one epic conclusion. Of course, not everybody in the film looked all that epic. Chris Hemsworth's Thor had sort of let himself go, which, as it turns out, was sort of a problem for those people who had to work closely with him. A behind-the-scenes image of Endgame helps remind us that Rocket isn't just a CGI creation, but an actual person, who had to get up close and personal with Thor's belly. Check it out.
from r/marvelstudios
Sean Gunn may be best known for playing the role of Kraglin in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, but he's also the physical stand-in for Rocket on set. He's there so that the rest of the cast have somebody to respond to and to make sure sure nobody accidentally steps where Rocket is supposed to be. Unfortunately, in the case of Avengers: Endgame, that means being in a unique position as it relates to Thor.
This scene was funny when we saw the CGI character being embraced by the overweight god, now it is somehow funnier, and also terrible, to see this happen to the real man. Although, based on several of the comments on Reddit, where the image was posted, there's no shortage of people who would be happy to switch places with Sean Gunn, regardless of the state of Chris Hemsworth's abs.
When we first see Thor in Avengers: Endgame, Rocket and Hulk have traveled to New Asgard to find their friend. Thor is so happy to see them that he grabs Rocket and gives him a big hug, one that means been smashed against Thor's now excessively flabby belly.
The new version of Thor, who had lost all hope and thus was falling apart, was one of the best parts of Endgame. While there's certainly comedy in the performance, there's also tragedy. He, like several of the other characters, has been broken by the events of Avengers: Infinity War. He isn't sure how to go on. His new appearance is simply an outward sign of inner turmoil.
And yet, "Lebowski Thor" is now popular in his own right. He didn't magically transform back to his old self at the end of Endgame, and considering how popular he is now, perhaps he'll look the same in the upcoming sequel.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for both Thor and Rocket. We know we'll see them, both again at least once. Thor: Love and Thunder is already set for 2021 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is coming, though the movie has yet to be given a new release date once it got back on track.
