Natalie Portman Will Play The Mighty Thor in ‘Thor: Love And Thunder’

“I always had hammer envy.”

The 2019 San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) has been full of surprises. This may be the biggest yet: Natalie Portman will play Thor in Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder. 

Chris Hemsworth even made it official by passing along Thor’s trusty hammer Mjolnir when she took the stage, via director Taika Waititi.

As Vulture reports, Portman’s taking on the role is a surprise on several levels, given that there was a perception she didn’t have a good relationship with Marvel following her stint as the Hemsworth Thor’s girlfriend, Jane Foster. Portman had recommended director Patty Jenkins for Thor 2, and after Jenkins left in frustration, she reportedly followed suit.

That’s all been swept aside, apparently. From Vulture:

Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi explained the upcoming film will borrow a plot line from the Thor graphic novel written by Jason Aaron that features a female God of Thunder. “For us, there’s only one person who could play that role and she’s here,” Waititi said.

As Portman strode across the stage, there was both glee and confusion from the 7,000 or so panel attendees in Hall H. Hemsworth handed her his signature Mjolinir. “I always had hammer envy,” Portman said with a mischievous smile.

No one will question Portman’s ability to carry a Marvel movie—the actress has a knack for action that hasn’t been put to good use in a while.

But what’s up with the plot of Love and Thunder? It might be illustrative to note that Hemsworth will also be in the movie as Thor, and Portman will play Jane Foster again, in addition to The Mighty Thor (yes, apparently there’s a difference between Thor and The Mighty Thor).

Confused? We’ll probably all have it mostly sorted out by the time Thor: Love and Thunder hits movie theaters on November 5, 2021.