Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige talks about the process of story crafting Thor: Love and Thunder back when its predecessor had just debuted.
Speaking to Total Film, Feige opened up about where and when most of the ideas for the upcoming film came from. Feige explained a longstanding studio tradition wherein key creative teams go see public screenings of their films on opening day before discussing them over dinner. He stated, "At that dinner on [Thor: Ragnarok’s] opening night, Chris and Taika and I and much of the team sat around, and [director Taika Waititi] and [Thor actor Chris Hemsworth] immediately started spitballing ideas for the next one. Many of those ideas that came up on that first discussion, on that opening-night dinner of Ragnarok, are in this movie.”
Thor: Love and Thunder marks Chris Hemsworth's fourth solo outing as the titular God of Thunder, setting a new Marvel Cinematic Universe record upon its release. Executive producer Brian Chapek previously remarked on that honored distinction, as well as the fact that it might not last. Chapek said, "Well I would say he's the only person so far to get four movies. That's not necessarily a hint, but it's not a restriction, either."
While Feige hasn't discussed that record specifically, he has commented on the longevity of Hemsworth's Thor in the MCU. Feige said, "I know this: there are many, many other Thor stories in the comics that we talk about a lot." He added, "And as we watch Chris Hemsworth continue to grow and evolve as a major acting talent, I would be excited to see how he keeps evolving this complex character."
Alongside Hemsworth's God of Thunder, the film will see the return of Natalie Portman to the MCU as Jane Foster. This time around, Portman's character will be wielding both Mjolnir and all the powers of Thor that come with it. The stark departure from Foster's previous appearances has already been lauded by Portman's most important critics - her children. She explained that, "They watched a rough cut with me, and they were like, 'This is the best thing ever!"
The film will also introduce a brand new set of gods to the MCU in the form of the Greek Pantheon led by Russell Crowe as the electrifying Zeus. These divine figures, as well as Asgard's own, will be under assault from Gorr the God Butcher, a deicidal villain portrayed by Christian Bale in his own initial outing in a Marvel film. Director Taika Waititi has stated that Bale's Gorr "tested the highest out of any villain that Marvel’s had" in regard to early screenings in front of test audiences.
Thor: Love and Thunder strikes theaters on July 8, 2022.
Source: Total Film