Every Way Thor 4 Is Undoing Ragnarok & Endgame

Thor: Love and Thunder is undoing a lot of the significant things that happened to the God of Thunder’s arc in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame. The Asgardian has gone through a lot of stuff over the last several years of his life which include losing both Odin and Loki and making arguably the biggest mistake of his life by allowing Thanos to sneak in the snap that killed half of life in the universe in Avengers: Infinity War. Somehow, he survived all of these tragedies and is now off to continue his adventures in the MCU all while some of his fellow founding heroes have retired from active duty.

Chris Hemsworth and Taika Waititi reunite for the second time in the MCU after the success of Ragnarok which effectively changed the character’s trajectory; this time it’s for the Asgardian’s fourth standalone film, Thor: Love and Thunder. Announced during the San Diego Comic-Con 2019, the blockbuster will also see the return of Jane Foster in the franchise after being absent since the events of Thor: The Dark World as she becomes Mighty Thor. The much-anticipated blockbuster will also have a much bigger cast with returning characters like Valkyrie, Lady Sif, and several members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. There are also few MCU newcomers such as Russell Crowe in a yet-to-be-disclosed role, as well as, Christian Bale who plays Gorr the God Butcher — the movie’s main antagonist.

Principal photography has been in full swing since January 2021 following a series of delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. While Marvel Studios has been mum about the Thor: Love and Thunder‘s narrative, plot details have been revealed thanks to leaked set images and videos. Given what’s known thus far, it appears as if it’s walking back on some of the biggest changes in terms of Thor’s trajectory.

Mjolnir Is Back

The destruction of Mjölnir in Thor: Ragnarok signified that change was coming for the God of Thunder. Ever since he debuted in the MCU, he had been attached to his signature weapon, with Kenneth Branagh’s Thor from 2011 mainly being about the hero proving himself worthy of wielding it. Over the years, he’d used it in every battle, and it was even the subject of one of the most fun scenes in the MCU when his fellow heroes attempted to lift it in Avengers: Age of Ultron. So when Hela crushed it with her bare hands in Ragnarok, it was such a huge blow to Thor’s confidence; at one point, he didn’t even think that he could defeat his evil sister without the mystical hammer. Eventually, he found a way to operate without it, and Avengers: Infinity War, he even replaced it with Stormbreaker. While it came back in Avengers: Endgame thanks to the time heist, the hero once again parted ways with it as Captain America had to return the weapon to its original place and time setting.

Now, however, it’s once again back in Thor: Love and Thunder. Almost a month into production, Mjölnir was spotted to be back on the set with Hemsworth’s stunt double wielding it. It’s currently unclear how exactly this is possible, but the idea that Thor might have to revert back into using it again somehow backpedals his journey to coming to terms that his powers never came from it. Using Mjölnir once more can undo his progress to not be dependent on his weapon and rely on his inner capabilities.

Asgard Is Back

For the most part of Thor: Ragnarok, the God of Thunder worked hard to ensure that the prophecy of Ragnarok will not come to fruition. However, following his spiritual conversation with Odin, he realized that he was looking at the situation all wrong; he was attached to the actual place which was why he was so motivated to save and preserve it amidst the onslaught from Hela. Ultimately, he learned that “Asgard is not a place. It’s a people” and diverted his efforts to saving the Asgardians from the inevitable destruction of the realm. By Avengers: Endgame, New Asgard has been established in Norway; while Thor was in his depressive state, Valkyrie took over. Based on its brief appearance in the movie, it seems to be thriving despite its new location. However, while Endgame‘s Asgard looked like a normal fishing village, Thor: Love and Thunder set images hint that Asgardians may have built new structures to mimic the look of their old kingdom.

Thor’s Old Hairstyle Is Back

Like the destruction of Mjölnir, cutting Thor’s hair in Thor: Ragnarok was also an indication that there would be some big changes for the God of Thunder. The film made a big deal about giving the God of Thunder a fresh look as it went hand in hand with the character’s personality haul. Instead of his brooding mood from Thor: The Dark World, the Avengers became more humorous and sarcastic, effectively making him more fun to watch.  Aside from its comedic purpose, cutting Thor’s hair in Ragnarok also involved character co-creator and comic book legend Stan Lee was involved. Thor continued to sport the shorter do throughout Avengers: Infinity War transitioning to Avengers: Endgame where he ultimately regrew but was styled differently with more intricate braiding. However, a brand new video from Hemsworth posted on social media hint that Thor is going back to the simpler updo he started wearing in MCU Phase 2 in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Fat Thor From Endgame Is Gone

Thor’s failure to stop Thanos’ snap in Avengers: Infinity War and the losses he suffered since Thor: Ragnarok caused his depression. In the five years following the decimation, he checked out from his superhero gig, as well as his Asgardian duties, and instead fell into a depressive episode. This also affected his physical well-being as he gained weight, resulting in this version of the character being known as Fat Thor. This creative decision earned a divisive response from the public, as many found the treatment of Thor’s weight gain as a result of mental turmoil insensitive to those dealing with mental health and body image issues. Moving on to his next MCU outing, it appears as if Fat Thor will not return in Thor: Love and Thunder, as set photos reveal Hemsworth is the fittest and strongest he’s ever been while in the MCU. As seen in Avengers: Endgame, Thor can’t magically lose weight, as he remained on the heavier side even after Thanos’ defeat and he was starting to have a cheerier disposition. So for the God of Thunder to make this transformation, there has to be a process involved — something that may unfortunately not play out on screen.

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