Thor 4 Theory: Jane Foster Becomes A Valkyrie In Love & Thunder

Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster could become a Valkyrie in Thor: Love & Thunder. Jane was introduced as the primary love interest for Thor, the God of Thunder, in Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 Thor movie. She was as an astrophysicist who stumbled upon the opening Bifrost Bridge, and soon found herself caught up in Asgardian affairs. Jane Foster returned in Thor: The Dark World, where her sophisticated sensor suite was detecting the Convergence of the Nine Realms. This time she was exposed to the Aether, and Thor transported her to Asgard itself.

And then Natalie Portman left the MCU. She was dissatisfied with the creative approach taken by Marvel Studios at the time, particularly with the studio’s treatment of Patty Jenkins, who briefly signed up to direct Thor: The Dark World. Thor made a throwaway reference to Jane in Thor: Ragnarok, a quick joke that seemed to imply Foster would never be seen in the MCU again. Then, to the delight of fans, Marvel announced Portman would be reprising the role of Jane Foster in the upcoming Thor: Love & Thunder. Marvel had clearly patched things up with Portman; they’re a very different company now, thanks to a major corporate restructure conducted in 2015, and the Thor franchise was taking a very different direction under Taika Waiti. Symbolic of this, Jane Foster will be no mere love interest; she will be returning as the Mighty Thor, wielding Mjolnir as a hero for herself.

It’s possible the Mighty Thor will be sticking around for a while, with Jane Foster enjoying a new status quo as a prominent superhero and perhaps even an Avenger in her own right. But the more likely scenario is that this will be a temporary thing, setting Jane up for a very different role.

Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor Run Explained

In the comics, Jane Foster became Thor when the God of Thunder had lost the ability to lift Mjolnir, no longer believing himself worthy. Jane knew the God of Thunder serves a crucial role in defense of the Nine Realms, and thus concluded there must always be a Thor. Thus she picked up the enchanted hammer and transformed into the new Mighty Thor. This came at a terrible cost; Jane was suffering from cancer, and every time she transformed, the magic of Mjolnir nullified the healing effects of the chemotherapy she was undergoing. This was the key to Jane’s worthiness, because she was willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of the Nine Realms. With the cancer progressing, Jane still chose to transform in order to protect Asgard from the monstrous power of the Mangog. This victory cost her Mjolnir itself, as she used it to wrap the Mangog in a chain and toss the hammer into the sun. The Mighty Thor transformed into Jane Foster one last time – before she died.

The death of Jane Foster was the natural conclusion of the Mighty Thor’s story, and it was emotionally satisfying – if more than a little heartbreaking. But her heroism led Odin to believe she should live on, and the All-Father traveled to the gates of Valhalla. He combined his unfathomable power with the might of the God Tempest to resurrect Jane. She took another shuddering breath, and lived again, now as a normal human being. With Mjolnir gone, Jane was able to return to her chemotherapy and begin the long, arduous road to health once again.

Thor: Love & Thunder writer-director Taika Waititi has expressed doubt he’ll use Jane Foster’s cancer story, but hopefully he’ll choose to do so. The cancer was intrinsic to Jane’s heroism and worthiness; it was the central driving force of the Mighty Thor’s narrative arc. Without the cancer plot, the Mighty Thor is just a costume worn by Natalie Portman rather than a recognizable character. But, should Waititi use the cancer plot, it naturally means Jane Foster’s time as Thor can’t lost for long. Every time she transforms, she takes herself one step closer to death. Thus, rather than a new status quo, the Mighty Thor would be better as the next step in Jane’s journey.

Jane Foster Went On To Become A Valkyrie

In the comics, Jane Foster’s time as the Mighty Thor had a lasting impact. Readers were now used to seeing Jane as a hero in her own right, rather than just a love interest, and they didn’t want that story to be over. Nor did Jane; having proved willing to pay the ultimate price for the Nine Realms, she was not content to stand by and watch as they plunged into war. Thus, at the end of the “War of the Realms” event Jane Foster became the new Valkyrie. The Valkyries of old had been slaughtered by Malekith and his armies, and the Thor franchise required a replacement to usher to the souls of the dead to their eternal reward in Valhalla. The new Valkyrie doesn’t wield lightning and thunder; rather, she is mistress of life and death. It’s a stunning new status quo, currently being explored by Jason Aaron in his Valkyrie: Jane Foster series, and it shows how Jane has changed forever now she’s been a superhero.

Jane Foster Could Become A Valkyrie In The MCU

The MCU, of course, has traditionally taken a very different approach to the Thor mythos; it initially stripped the franchise of its supernatural elements, hand-waving sorcery away as advanced science, and only became more confident as time passed. Thus, in the MCU, the Valkyries are not responsible for taking the dead to Valhalla. Rather, they were Odin’s elite warriors, and according to Thor: Ragnarok they were almost wiped out eons ago by Hela. Only one of them survived, Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, who lived on Sakaar for untold millennia before siding with Thor against Hela. She survived the events of Avengers: Infinity War, and at the end of Avengers: Endgame she was declared monarch of New Asgard. Intriguingly, in Endgame she was shown riding one of the Valkyries’ traditional flying horses, although it’s not clear where she acquired the creature.

It’s entirely possible Valkyrie will choose to reform her old group, seeking new “Shield-Bearers” to ride other flying steeds. If that is the case, there’s no reason Jane Foster’s role in Thor: Love & Thunder couldn’t set her up to step out of Thor’s shadow and find a new superhero identity for herself. Rather than just becoming a female Thor, she could instead become a new Valkyrie, taking to the skies and doing battle alongside gods and Avengers. That would be a perfect new status quo for Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster – plus, it would satisfy multiple plot points in Jane’s story arc. Furthermore, that would leave Chris Hemsworth’s Thor as the sole Thor in the MCU, but with multiple Valkyries.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
(4898 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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