Though it hasn't been officially announced by Marvel Studios, Thor: Love and Thunder's Tessa Thompson has confirmed that The Dark Knight's Christian Bale will, in fact, portray the film's villain.
Thompson, who portrayed Valkyrie in both 2017's Thor: Ragnarok and 2019's Avengers: Endgame, revealed Bale's role to ET. "Christian Bale is going to play our villain, which is going to be fantastic," she said. Thompson then went on to reveal, "I've read the script. I can't tell you much. Lots of exciting text messages exchanged between Natalie and I," finally adding, "We're going to have fun. Taika is writing [and] directing. Some familiar faces. Some new people coming into the mix."
It is currently uncertain which character specifically Bale will be playing. Previous reports have only suggested that the actor will be playing an "otherworldly" antagonist in the fourth Thor film.
Thor: Love and Thunder is said continue the story set up at the end of Avengers: Endgame, which showed Valkyrie becoming the new Queen of Asgard. The film will also see the return of Natalie Portman's Jane Foster, who will take on the mantle of Thor. Production on Thor: Love and Thunder is set to begin later this year.
Directed by Taika Waititi, Thor: Love and Thunder stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. The film arrives in theaters Nov. 5, 2021.