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Tag: Love and Thunder

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’: Post-Credits Scenes Explained

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’: Post-Credits Scenes Explained

    Marvel Studios has returned with another movie, which means another round of exciting post-credits scenes that fans can theorize on for years to come. Thor: Love and Thunder, like many of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films before it, features two extra tags at the end of it’s runtime. The first of these teases continues the tradition of introducing surprising new characters after the credits roll, while the second brings back a familiar face to put a nice little bow on the fourth Thor story. As always, there’s quite a bit to break down, so sit back and relax your brain while we do the work and explain what exactly is going on in those signature Marvel stingers.

    Enter: Hercules

    Well, if you’ve made it this far, you probably already know that Brett Goldstein is Marvel’s Hercules. About halfway through Love and Thunder‘s credits, the Ted Lasso star pops up as the Greek Prince of Power in a surprise reveal. The scene acts as a continuation of an earlier sequence in the movie where Chris Hemsworth‘s Thor confronts Russell Crowe‘s Zeus for refusing to act on the rise of Gorr the God Butcher, a conversation that would ultimately result in Zeus’ very public humiliation in Omnipotence City. After the chat between both Thunder Gods turns sour, a physical conflict begins, and Thor’s best buddy Korg is seemingly struck down by Zeus’ powerful lightning bolt. Korg turns out to be alive, but that doesn’t stop an enraged Thor from catching Zeus’ next bolt and chucking it right back to where it came from. The bolt goes through Zeus’ chest, and the renowned leader topples silently from his regal perch.

    The mid-credits scene lets the audience know that Zeus is not dead, but is instead plotting his revenge on Thor while recovering from his wound. To do this, he enlists the aid of his son, Hercules. Following a dramatic monologue in which Zeus laments the lack of fear modern mortals have for gods, he asks Hercules to find Thor and prove that the gods are still a force to be reckoned with. The camera then cuts to Goldstein standing up in full comic book Hercules attire, complete with flowing chest hair and his fun little club weapon.

    The character has long been rumored to be making his MCU debut in Phase Four, and Love and Thunder was such a perfect place for the entrance to happen it’s almost shocking it didn’t occur in the main story. In the comics, Hercules has encountered Thor many times, at first as an enemy but eventually as a longtime friend. When the two first meet, Thor is searching for Olympus alongside his brother Loki on a mission of peace, but Hercules’ natural desire to prove his strength leads to initial conflict. In fact, the concept of Herc and Thor duking it out to prove who is stronger would become a recurring thread in their relationship. Despite actually becoming quick pals, a friendly rivalry would remain for the rest of their days. As Herc himself would eventually say in Tony Isabella‘s Champions #1; “Whatever Thor canst do – Hercules can accomplish more mightily!“

    The MCU’s introduction of the character implies a potential Thor 5 plot might revolve around Hercules and the Greek gods clashing with Thor and his Asgardian comrades. However, as previously mentioned, these two entities are often more in line with each other than they are in opposition. Not long after Hercules meets Thor, the former is tricked by the Enchantress into visiting Earth and attacking the Avengers. He’s swiftly snapped out of it, but his actions anger Zeus and, like Thor before him, he’s banished from his home on Olympus and forced to live among the mortals. Hercules then becomes an on-and-off member of the Avengers, later co-founding his own team called the Champions, and creating a new life for himself on Earth and pulling away from the Hercules known in Greek mythology.

    Perhaps the post-movie setup is actually for a future team-up where Hercules attacks Earth’s Mightiest Heroes before having a change of heart, ultimately being banished by Zeus for not fulfilling his mission and becoming a regular mainstay of the MCU Avengers. Or, maybe, his assault on Thor will only last briefly, before the two partner up to take on a bigger threat. The duo have confronted massive villains like the Chaos King Amatsu-Mikaboshi and Herc’s Uncle Pluto together in the past. There’s a good chance one of those baddies lines up against the “God Squad” of Herc and Thor in another solo adventure down the line.

    Valkyrie: Jane Foster

    Once the credits have been completed, fans are treated to a short scene that could serve to either wrap up Dr. Jane Foster’s MCU story or open the door to an entirely new chapter. In Love and Thunder‘s final moments, Jane uses a crumbling Mjolnir to entrap the blade of Gorr’s God-slaying sword and destroy it for good. This effectively defeats the God Butcher and saves the lives of all gods, but it also robs Foster of the only thing keeping her alive. After her sacrifice, Jane dies contently in the arms of Thor, knowing the universe has been made a better place for everyone. The post-credits reveal that Jane, having died an Asgardian hero, has been granted access to an afterlife in Valhalla.

    She’s welcomed to life-after-death by Idris Elba’s Heimdall, who previously perished in battle against Thanos and the Black Order. He’s happy to see Jane, who saved the life of his son after he was kidnapped by Gorr, and welcomes her to a post-mortem existence as both a warrior and a friend. The pair walk off together, gladly embracing whatever Valhalla may have in store for them. If Marvel so chooses, this could be the perfect ending to the tale of Jane Foster, especially if actress Natalie Portman decides she’s done with the superhero gig forever. However, it could also be teeing up an adaptation of a very recent comic run from legendary Thor scribe Jason Aaron.

    Still ongoing at the time of this publication, Valkyrie: Jane Foster tells the story of Foster after she loses the power of The Mighty Thor. Forced to sacrifice a crumbling Mjolnir in a last-ditch effort to save the universe, Jane is blessed with the powers of a Valkyrie and becomes the first in a new generation of Asgard’s most elite group. She then accepts help from a recently deceased Heimdall, ultimately using her newfound abilities to aid a grieving Thor and take Heimdall’s spirit on one last adventure through the multiversal afterlife. Sound familiar? Love and Thunder establishes a close friendship, and possible romance, between Foster and Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie. It’s not far-fetched to think Val might find a way to bless Jane with Valkrior power in a future MCU project, and the post-credits scene perfectly sets up the new friendship between Foster and Heimdall. If Portman and Elba are both down for another outing, this story could be adapted as a sub-plot in Thor 5 or as a Valkyrie spin-off series on Disney+. After all, Kevin Feige and company really do love their series spin-offs these days.

    Source: Marvel

  • Funko Pop for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Zeus Revealed

    Funko Pop for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Zeus Revealed

    There’s a lot to love about Thor: Love and Thunder. Director Taika Waititi is let loose on his usual comedic take on the Norse space god. We not only got to meet the infamous God Butcher but are also introduced to the pantheon of gods that rule over the many parts of the galaxy. One of them was the memorable performance of Russell Crowe as the Greek god Zeus. If you’ve wanted to add him to your Funko Pop collection, you’re in luck as a new look at the bearded Greek god has been shared online.

    He was a great addition to the film and certainly left us with a memorable performance. The Funko Pop highlights his overall design, as he’s much closer to what the father of the gods is known for, especially with the way he is played. He’ll make for a great addition, and it would be a shame not to get some additional Funkos based on the various Gods that were showcased throughout the film.

    Thor: Love and Thunder has just hit theaters and is already on its way to making quite an impression at the box office. It’ll be interesting to see how far the film goes and if they might release a few Funko Pops for other characters that were showcased throughout the film’s runtime. It’s a shame that it always takes a while for some of them to see the day of light but collector’s are definitely there once they do.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Rumbles to Big International Opening

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Rumbles to Big International Opening

    Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder is off to a thunderous start overseas. According to Deadline, the fourth Thor film opened to an estimated $15.7 million across 17 international box office markets including Korea, Australia, Italy and Germany. While that is approximately 39% ahead of Thor: Ragnarok, that is actually slightly under (24%) Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ opening. 

    In Korea, Thor: Love and Thunder managed to open with $3.1 million. That gives it the 5th highest opening day during the pandemic era. While in Australia, the fourquel opened to an estimated $3 million. That would give it the 2nd highest opening day during the pandemic, as well as the highest opening day of 2022 to date and the 5th biggest all-time opening day for a Marvel Cinematic Universe film in Australia.

    As for Indonesia, the film managed to score the best opening day during the pandemic era with a reported $1.6 million. In Italy, Love and Thunder took in an estimated $1.4 million giving it the 3rd highest opening day of the pandemic era, as well as the 2nd biggest opening of 2022. While Germany saw the film open to $1.2 million for the 4th highest opening during the pandemic era.

    Thor: Love and Thunder officially opens stateside tomorrow, while there are preview screenings underway as of today. Preview numbers should be unveiled tomorrow, helping to provide a better estimate for the marvelous film’s box office projections. As it stands, though, Love and Thunder is expected to open around $300 million at the worldwide box office this weekend.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Set Tour Reveals a Clever Infinity Gauntlet Easter Egg

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Set Tour Reveals a Clever Infinity Gauntlet Easter Egg

    We’re just a day away from Thor: Love and Thunder finally hitting theaters. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the upcoming film but with reviews at a strong 72% on Rotten Tomatoes, it does seem like we’re in for a fun ride once again from the crazy mind that is Taika Waititi. In a new fun set visit from Entertainment Tonight featuring Chris Hemsworth and Waititi showing off the set that is the backdrop of New Asgard. In it, he reveals a fun Thanos Easter egg

    In the background, we can see an ice cream store in New Asgard titled “Infinity Conez” with the Infinity Gauntlet sticking out of the building. If you look closely in the video, we can even see that the Infinity Stones are stuck in the ice cream cone it is holding. While it’s surprising anyone would try to market their store based on the one thing that destroyed half of all life in the universe, but it’s a fun idea nonetheless.

    There are also a lot of fun details included such as the logo for Infinity being designed after the Avengers movie logo. Who knows what else might be included in New Asgard, as the city became quite the tourist attraction. Who wouldn’t want to visit the location where the God of Thunder lived, one of the men that would save the planet from a threat unlike any other. Perhaps they have a place to chop off Thanos’s head with a fake Stormbreaker for kids to have something to do while visiting.

    Source: Entertainment Tonight

  • Marvel Studios President Always Believed Natalie Portman Would Return “If It Was An Interesting Role”

    Marvel Studios President Always Believed Natalie Portman Would Return “If It Was An Interesting Role”

    When Natalie Portman moved away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe after her work on Thor: The Dark World had seemingly ended her working relationship with Marvel Studios. At least, that’s how the world viewed her exit from the franchise for many years. Many were surprised when she walked on stage to take on the mantle of Mighty Thor for Thor: Love and Thunder and it seems that Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, never saw it as a split.

    Kevin Feige highlighted in the interview with Empire that the external perspectives of Natalie Portman having exited the Marvel Cinematic Universe “didn’t feel that way to [him].” He goes on to highlight that “it was [his] impression that if it was an interesting role, she would be game.” There also wasn’t truly a story that seemed like the perfect time to bring her back, which wouldn’t be until

    Director Taika Waititi pitched the idea directly to Natalie Portman and was a big part of bringing her back to the franchise. It also wasn’t something he set out to include initially, but just developed while writing the story. So, we’re lucky that he had the inspiration o bring back the iconic character and give Portman‘s Jane Foster another run to give her something to work with. Here’s hoping it may also et up many more stories to come in the future giving us a look at how Mighty Thor finds her place within the MCU.

    Source: Empire via The Direct

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Tessa Thompson on How Stan Lee Inspired Her Valkyrie

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Tessa Thompson on How Stan Lee Inspired Her Valkyrie

    All eyes have been on Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth as the leading Thors of Love and Thunder. Yet, we also have the returning Tessa Thompson as the wonderful Valkyrie. After taking over kingship following thor’s travel into space, she’s been quite busy and we’ll see a new version of the character. Thompson offered some insight during the official press conference into how she approached the character going in and what it means to be a hero.

    It’s been really fun.  I mean, the thing that I’ve really enjoyed about these films, and certainly I think something that Stan Lee talked a lot about, whether it’s a villain or a hero. The thing sometimes that connects them to their power, whether it’s used for good or bad, is actually their trauma. 

    Tessa Thompson

    She also relates this approach when we first met Valkyrie in Thor Ragnarok, where she was down on her luck.

    And so, when we first met Valkyrie, she had a tremendous amount of it, and she was dealing with that by drinking a lot.  And for Taika and I, we talked a lot about, like, upending what it looks like…what a female superhero looks like. That you sort of have this moment where she comes out, and you think it’s gonna be sort of that badass thing.  And then, she immediately falls over.  

    Tessa Thompson

    She also highlights how the biggest challenge was bringing this character to life and letting a former soldier become a hero; even comparing herself to how Chris Hemsworth tackles it with Thor.

    And that was really fun to both try to inhabit the spirit and the kind of physicality that it takes to be a hero, which is its own skill. It’s like, Chris is so tremendous at it. And you’re right. It’s not an easy thing to do. And that also, to allow her to be fun and sort of goofy. And it’s just been really nice. 

    Tessa Thompson

    “Fun and sort of goofy” sounds exactly like what one can expect from a film directed by Taika Waititi. It’s definitely going to be interesting to see where her journey leads her and the trailers have offered a promising tease of what the future might have in store for Valkyrie as the King of Asgard.

  • REVIEW: ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Is a Comic Book Come to Life

    REVIEW: ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Is a Comic Book Come to Life

    When superheroes first became a fixture on the big screen, they were saddled with a pretty specific caveat. Studios seemed to believe that if these movies were going to land with the mainstream culture, they had to find a way to ground themselves in reality. Cartoonish oddities would only be allowed if they were coated by some form of gritty, down-to-Earth paint job. Whether it be swapping colorful spandex for solid black leather or trading the Batmobile for a speedy tank, the unwritten rule was that comic book movies should not actually feel like comic books. On July 7th, when Thor: Love and Thunder hammers its way into theaters, audiences will learn this is no longer the case.

    One of the best sketches to come out of Key & Peele‘s impeccable run was ‘Gremlins 2′ Brainstorm, in which Hollywood’s greatest “sequel doctor” raids the creative meeting for Gremlins 2 and radiantly exaggerates every idea the writers have. “What about a brainy Gremlin?,” one scripter asks. The doctor replies excitedly, “You’re talking about a Gremlin with glasses who can talk and sing ‘New York, New York’? That’s brilliant. It’s in the movie. Done.” This is how I imagine the writers’ room for Love and Thunder played out, but with Taika Waititi at the helm instead. The level of absurdity that the film operates on suggests that the famously eccentric writer/director never encountered an idea that he wasn’t able to use. It’s Ragnarok on steroids, filled to the brim with vibrant hilarity, energetic chaos, and ball-breaking action.

    Most importantly, however, it feels like watching a comic book. Marvel Studios has spent the past few years dipping further and further into full-blown funny paper territory, and the fourth Thor may be the project that has finally put the studio over the edge. Fans have known since the release of the film’s early trailers that several shots during its runtime are lifted directly from the illustrated page. Yet, it’s the essence of nonconformity that really sells the schtick. There’s a certain emotional freedom that comes with watching a movie so completely free of expectation. Of course, no direct adaptation can exist without some degree of presupposition, it’s just that Love and Thunder doesn’t care what logic says it’s “supposed” to be. It simply lives as itself, and viewers will be better off surrendering to the magic of the moment than they will be trying to fight it off.

    The title, Love and Thunder, has more than one meaning, which will become apparent to fans by the time the credits roll. Taken literally though, the titular nouns represent the two main aspects of the film. “Love,” for the central plot concerning the protagonist’s growing dependence on his own emotions, and “Thunder,” for the absolute exuberance emitted from every scene. The backbone of the movie is composed of “Love,” which is why it works as well as it does. Always present amongst the madness is a central theme connecting it all back to an admittedly endearing sense of humanity. Fantasy is fun, but it can’t work if it isn’t somehow relatable. It’s the “Love” that permits the “Thunder” to continue rolling, and roll it does. Thor, Mighty Thor, and their supporting cast have never been funnier or, simultaneously, cooler than they are here. The action is often creatively jaw-dropping, and the project’s unending well of energy means you probably won’t find a good time to use the bathroom.

    Adding to the joy is the movie’s cast, arguably the only ones having a better time than the viewers themselves. Chris Hemsworth, who was once ready to throw in his godly towel, appears to be more comfortable in the role than ever, and Natalie Portman, who really did once walk away from the franchise, no longer seems to be playing Dr. Jane Foster against her will. The actors also suddenly have genuine chemistry with each other, something that was never present in their previous interactions, perhaps as a result of both actually wanting to be there. Tessa Thompson is a predictable delight, portraying a more developed Valkyrie than we’ve seen before. It’s truly a feat when a performer can be in the majority of a movie and still leave the audience wishing she was around for more.

    In actuality, though, it’s likely Christian Bale‘s scene-stealing Gorr the God Butcher who deserved more screen time. The villain isn’t in a ton of the film, even if his presence is always looming over the general merriment, and that may be the story’s greatest weakness. Nevertheless, when he is on screen, the Academy Award winner demands to be watched. Bale plays the character with an unexpectedly terrifying glee. His menacing, sickening smile, combined with an intensely threatening aura, makes for one of the more intriguing Marvel Cinematic Universe baddies in recent memory. Gorr’s motives take up the recent trend of superhero antagonists with a tinge of sympathy, but make no mistake, he’s still out for blood. When the God Butcher enters the room, all manner of commotion stands still.

    Altogether, Thor: Love and Thunder is the most entertaining a comic book adaptation has been in a while, and it feels like Hemsworth and Marvel Studios are just getting started with this fresh take on the God of Thunder. While this sort of thing has been said about most recent blockbuster releases, this time it could actually be true. It’s a comic book come to life, with all the vibrant colors and out-of-this-world surrealism one might expect from the pages of a Walt Simonson, or more accurately, Jason Aaron monthly magazine. If you don’t believe me, go find out for yourself. I promise it’ll be worth it.

  • ‘Love and Thunder’s Chris Hemsworth on the Qualities of Thor He Finds Most Relatable

    ‘Love and Thunder’s Chris Hemsworth on the Qualities of Thor He Finds Most Relatable

    Taika Waititi certainly took Thor in a very different direction from Thor: Ragnarok. While some weren’t too pleased with the more comedic direction, it does seem like it reinvigorated the cast and crew to continue telling the story of the God of Thunder. Thor: God of Thunder will even be the first time that one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchises gets the fourth entry.

    Chris Hemsworth got a chance to share why he continues to return to the role during the official press conference for the MCU sequel and what he finds so relatable to this new version of Thor.

    Yeah, no, definitely, especially since Taika got involved.  He brought out the immature, young, adolescent quality that I embody.  And so does Thor now, which he didn’t in the original films, which was exciting and new and fresh. And that’s, you know, always the sort of North Star is about having fun, you know. 

    Chris Hemsworth

    He goes on to highlight how they developed this project and started embracing what these characters all inherently should represent: fun.

    Embodying this space as a child would and enjoying all of it and being caught up in the wonder and the fascination of all of it. And not getting bogged down in the serious sort of nature that we can when making films, you know. Personally, with these kind of films, it’s got to be fun, and that’s what we’ve done.  That’s what I’ve related to. That’s what Taika’s kind of insisted upon, and it’s been fun.

    Chris Hemsworth

    He has stated that he ran out of energy with the character at a point. If it weren’t for Taika Waititi, we may have not seen Hemsworth in the MCU for as long as we did. And it seemingly also led to Hemsworth finding the part of himself that built a better connection with the character moving forward as he may still have some energy left to continue his journey through the franchise.

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ to Include Songs from Guns N’ Roses, ABBA, Dio, and More

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ to Include Songs from Guns N’ Roses, ABBA, Dio, and More

    As much as we love the soundtracks for the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, there’s also something great about hearing iconic songs as needle drop moments. Director Taika Waititi famously added Led Zeppelin‘s Immigrant Song into Thor: Ragnarok which added one of the film’s most iconic moments. Now, a new list has been revealed of twelve songs we can expect in his sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder, which includes ABBA, Guns N’ Roses, and so many more.

    • Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
    • Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City
    • Ginger Johnson – Old Spice Sea Chanty
    • ABBA – Our Last Summer
    • Michael Raphael – Fighting
    • Enya – Only Time
    • Mary J. Blige – Family Affair
    • Ciara – Goodies
    • Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
    • Guns N’ Roses – November Rain
    • Dio – Rainbow in the Dark

    It’s definitely quite the line-up that’ll surely be promising for those hoping to see the Thor fourquel offer the perfect atmosphere like the trailer. Guns N’ Roses seemed like a sure addition, as it’s been hinted at that it’s been an influence on the film’s general style and direction. It’s definitely looking to be one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s more stylized fares and if it hits the right notes, these needle drops may be stuck in our minds long after we leave the theaters.

    Source: The Direct

  • Marvel Studios President Reveals Why Thor is the MCU’s First Fourth Parter

    Marvel Studios President Reveals Why Thor is the MCU’s First Fourth Parter

    Thor will be the first Marvel Studios franchise to get the fourth installment treatment with Thor: Love and Thunder. Taika Waititi is back in the directing chair, who took over with Thor: Ragnarok. He took the franchise in a completely new direction; focusing more on Chris Hemsworth‘s comedic chops. In the official press conference for the upcoming Marvel film, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed why Hemsworth‘s Thor is the first to get four entries.

    I think they respond to Chris Hemsworth, and I think they respond to everything that he can do. And Taika certainly brought another dimension that was always there within Chris.  There were moments, even going back to EPK interviews between the two of them on our New Mexico set, where Chris was…  I was like, “Is he trying to be funny?  Or is it…?  No, he is being funny.  He’s, like, hilarious.”  And beginning to…  And I saw a clip of Ultron the other day, where he’s trying to make Ruffalo feel better about smashing a bunch of people, and it’s so funny. 

    Kevin Feige

    Age of Ultron definitely set up Thor’s future in a more comedic role, even The Dark World; faults and all; had some hilarious moments when the Odinson brothers interacted. So, it was luckily Taika Waititi that approached Marvel and told them to make use of Hemsworth‘s comedic chops.

    And it’s so…  it’s like this expert timing.  And Taika was like, “What are you guys doing with him just, you know, holding a hammer up with lightning?  Let’s do that and tap into everything Chris can do.” So, I think the audience responds to that.  And for so long, we said, “Well, he’s a Norse god.  How do we make him relatable?”  And spent so much time, I think, making sure that the audience connected with him, that they are so with him now that yes, we could go to a part four.

    Kevin Feige

    They certainly put in the work and it’s great to see Chris Hemsworth enjoy his time with the character. He especially was happy for the new direction with the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, who’ll definitely set up a new dynamic. Plus, we also have the already comedic-focused Guardians of the Galaxy joining this time around, who are definitely going to add some unique flair and comedy bits. Early reactions definitely teased Waititi‘s comedic chops are at a new high and it’ll definitely be interesting to see if there might even be a fifth installment in his future.