As Thor: Love and Thunder has begun its production, a series of behind-the-scenes photos have provided a glimpse into the characters involved in the next movie, including Natalie Portman's Jane Foster.While it is no secret that Portman will be reprising her role as Jane Foster in Thor's next saga, this is the first glimpse of her character on set. In the images shared on Twitter, Portman can be seen riding a horse, with little else to betray the true nature of her scene. An aspect of the image that stands out when viewed alongside the other photos is that Portman is the only actor shown wearing a face mask. Much of the crew can be spied in their masks due to the social distancing measures imposed by the pandemic. However, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan and Sean Gunn can all be seen without any facial coverings.
It remains unclear whether the mask is intended for the scene, or even if Portman is in character. It has, however, been confirmed that Jane Foster will be a fundamental part of the next chapter in Marvel Studios' Thor franchise. During the 2019 Comic-Con International in San Diego, it was announced that Portman would be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a major way, as she appeared on stage and lifted Thor's hammer (Mjölnir). This served to announce her role in the upcoming film, as she is set to take on the mantle of Thor, Goddess of Thunder, just like in the comics.
While Foster appeared during the events of Avengers: Endgame due to some old re-used footage, Portman hasn't appeared in the MCU after Thor 2: The Dark World. This meant that she missed out on the events of Thor's third solo film, Thor: Ragnarok. However, Portman's return will allow her to work under Ragnarok's director, as Taika Waititi once again takes the helm. This will also give Foster a chance to meet the new characters introduced into Thor's life, such as Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie, as well as the stars of Guardians of the Galaxy. Additionally, Christian Bale is set to play the movie's villain, Gorr the God Butcher, providing a substantial threat during Foster's first outing as a superhero.
Directed by Taika Waititi, Thor: Love and Thunder stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Jaimie Alexander as Lady Sif, Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillen as Nebula and Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher. The film arrives in theaters May 6, 2022.
Source: Twitter