Set photos from Thor: Love and Thunder have revealed the possible means through which Thor receives a new hammer. Thor: Ragnarok saw him lose Mjolnir when Hela crushed it in her fist. While Thor would later forge a new weapon in Avengers: Infinity War, he would receive a copy of Mjolnir during his time travel adventures in Avengers: Endgame; however, Captain America would return that hammer to its rightful place at the end of said film.
While Thor is left with Stormbreaker, set-photos for Love and Thunder reveal Thor wearing an outfit reminiscent of his Thunderstrike costume. On one hand, this could just be a cool Easter egg for longtime fans who remember the Thunderstrike days. On the other hand, it could be an indication that Eric Masterson is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a new hammer.
Who is Thunderstrike?
Thunderstrike first appeared as Eric Masterson in Thor #391. He is an architect who's badly injured during a battle between Spider-Man and Mongoose, but Thor saves him. Matters become more complicated when he and his family are caught up in a big battle between Thor and several other adversaries. Eric accompanies Thor across the universe to help him settle matters, only for Eric to be fatally injured.
However, before being injured, he lifts up Mjolnir. Thor realizes Eric's worthy, so he asks Odin to spare Eric's life. Odin does this by merging Eric with Thor. Both retain their personalities, with Eric being Thor's civilian identity and Thor being the superheroic identity, but this makes Eric's life terrible in the process. Eventually Thor and Eric separate, but Eric acts as Earth's defender, going by Thunderstrike for a brief period.
Can Thunderstrike Be an Alternate Reality Version of Thor?
As Thor, Eric wields Mjolnir, but, as Thunderstrike, he wields something slightly different: the Thunderstrike Mace. The mace is a weapon designed in the heart of a dying star, and it functions much like Mjolnir and Stormbreaker in that it is forged from the metal Uru. Odin grants it several enchantments, making it, in essence, pretty much Mjolnir.
As of now, no one has been cast as Eric in Love and Thunder. However, that doesn't mean Thunderstrike doesn't appear. It is possible that the Thor wearing Eric's clothing in the set photos is Chris Hemsworth playing Thunderstrike or an alternate reality version of Thunderstrike. Given the multiverse hijinks throughout the MCU leading up to Love and Thunder, it is possible the film will showcase Thunderstrike as an alternate reality version of Thor who either merges with the main Thor or is killed by Gorr the God Butcher. If this happens, he might surrender his weapon -- be it Mjolnir or the Thunderstrike Mace -- to the main Thor.
Multiverses of Thors?
In the comics, Gorr the God Butcher travels to multiple time periods in his pursuit to eradicate all the gods, so it wouldn't be unheard of to see the MCU Gorr do the same thing, but this time he's traveling between universes, killing different versions of gods. Thunderstrike can then travel to the main universe and pass on Mjolnir, hoping someone will stop Gorr. This could also be how Jane Foster becomes the Mighty Thor.
The Thunderstrike costume might be a cool throwback to the comics; however, it's possible this might be a hint as to how Thor wields his hammer once again. Not to mention, if Taika Waititi engages in the stranger, identity bending aspects of Thunderstrike, fans could see some of the wildest comic arcs brought to the big screen.
Directed by Taika Waititi, Thor: Love and Thunder stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Chris Pratt as Star-Lord and Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher. The film arrives in theaters May 6, 2022.