When is Thor: Love and Thunder out? After the downfall of Asgard and helping to kill Thanos, the God of Thunder is still knocking about in the MCU. However, now he’s going it alone, walking away from the burden of Asgardian leadership to explore the cosmos with other Marvel space travellers.
Chris Hemsworth is returning to play the eponymous hero for the action movie sequel, and he’s not the only familiar face. After nearly a decade away from the franchise, Natalie Portman is back in the MCU as Jane Foster, who’s got some interesting times ahead – but we’ll get to that. Their reunion is being directed by Taika Waititi, who, after blowing everything up in the comedy movie Thor: Ragnarok, is back for more antics in MCU Phase 4, and he’s bringing Spider-Man: No Way Home composer Michael Giacchino with him.
It’s all very exciting, promising a new chapter for one of the MCU’s most steadfast heroes. When can you check out a trailer, though? Better yet, when is the Thor: Love and Thunder release date? We’re not much for hammers, but we do wield the Mjolnir of savvy film knowledge to help make sure you don’t miss a beat. For Odin, here’s every piece on information we have on Thor 4.
Thor: Love and Thunder release date
Thankfully, it’s not long before this comes to cinema screens – Thor: Love and Thunder is in theatres on July 8, 2022. Marvel Studios announced this at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, following a report from The Hollywood Reporter stating that Waititi had signed on to direct.
This was during one of Marvel’s trademark blockbuster presentations, where Kevin Feige and co run through a load of plans for over the coming years. Shang-Chi, Black Widow, Eternals, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness were all part of the line-up, as well as the reveal that Mahershala Ali would be playing Blade in the MCU’s reboot of the vampire hunter. Phew!
Thor Love and Thunder trailer
Yes, Marvel released the first trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder in April. The Guardians are there, we get a look at the New Asgard, and, perhaps most excitingly of all, The Mighty Thor makes her first appearance!
Filming on Thor 4 was completed in June 2021, marked by an Instagram post from Waititi. Marvel and Disney have left this one uncharacteristically close to the wire, since normally the MCU PR machine starts six months before any given movie. Whatever the case, we have it now!
Thor: Love and Thunder plot
We know Thor: Love and Thunder is drawing heavily from Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman’s comic book storyline, The Mighty Thor, in which Jane Foster takes on Mjolnir and becomes Thor. During the same SDCC panel we learned about the project, Waititi spoke of his admiration for Aaron and Dauterman’s work.
“That storyline is incredible, it’s full of emotion, love and thunder,” Waititi said, “and introduces for the first time female Thor.” Then he brought out Portman, who held up Mjolnir to rapturous applause. But the narrative is about much more than Jane Foster’s ascension to Norse herodom. Of course, Thor will be looking to win back the heart of Jane, if the Love and Thunder set photos are anything to go by.
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Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie is a main character, after being asked to lead the Asgardian people by Thor in Avengers: Endgame. Going by comments from Thompson, Valkyrie will embrace her bisexuality from the comics. “As the new king, she needs to find her queen. So that will be the first order of business. She has some ideas,” she told audiences at SDCC.
Then we have the Guardians of the Galaxy, who Thor joined at the conclusion of Endgame. Star-Lord, Drax, Mantis, Groot, Rocket Raccoon, and Nebula are all confirmed to be appearing, though to what extent is a bigger question.
Finally, we have the main antagonist: Gorr the God Butcher, played by Christian Bale. A recurring enemy of Thor’s, Gorr is an alien who hates all gods for never answering his prayers. He uses All-Black the Necrosword, and in the comics, has come very close to killing the Odinson.
A merch leak for Thor 4 has given fans a tantalising taster of what might happen, with Valkyrie having to fight off a mysterious visitor to New Asgard. It’s safe to assume this will be Gorr, and that his arrival will bring Thor back from his galactic adventures. Whatever happens here, things could get very hairy indeed for Hemsworth’s portrayal of the Norse idol.
Who IS IN THE Thor: Love and Thunder cast?
Between returning characters, and new additions played by major Hollywood talent, the bulk of the cast for Thor 4 has been confirmed. We have Hemsworth’s Thor, Portman’s Jane, Thompson’s Valkyrie, Bale’s Gorr, and plenty more besides – including Russell Crowe as Zeus.
Here’s the confirmed Thor: Love and Thunder cast:
- Chris Hemsworth as Thor
- Natalie Portman as Jane Foster
- Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie
- Chris Pratt as Star-Lord
- Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer
- Pom Klementieff as Mantis
- Karen Gillan as Nebula
- Sean Gunn and Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon
- Vin Diesel as Groot
- Jaimie Alexander as Sif
- Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher
- Russell Crowe as Zeus
- Taika Waititi as Korg
- Melissa McCarthy as Fake Hela
- Matt Damon as Fake Loki
- Sam Neill as Fake Odin
- Luke Hemsworth as Fake Thor
Peter Dinklage is also rumoured to be returning as the giant dwarf Eitri who forged Thor’s new weapon Stormbreaker. Nothing’s been confirmed yet, but considering we’ve seen a repaired Mjolnir in promo images it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he’ll be back.
As of now, that’s everything we know about Thor: Love and Thunder. Needless to say, Chris Hemsworth’s next jaunt through the hallowed halls of the MCU could be his most boisterous yet. While we await more, check out our guides on Black Panther 2 and Ant-Man 3.