Thor: Love and Thunder is still over two years away but fans are already coming up with theories as to how Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster can wield Chris Hemsworth’s on-screen hammer, Mjolnir.
For those of you who may not know, the Marvel Studios Reddit page has a section known as Theory Thursday. In it, fans post their own theories regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the comments section. This particular theory dedicated itself to explain how Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster could wield Mjolnir.
As we all know, Thor’s hammer was destroyed by Hela at the start of Thor: Ragnarok. Chris Hemsworth’s character had to go the rest of the film without it before discovering his own strength and self-worth by its end. In Avengers: Endgame, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor took Mjolnir from the Thor: The Dark World timeline as part of the film’s elaborate time travel plot before duel wielding it and Stormbreaker in the climactic fight with Josh Brolin’s Thanos. However, Chris Hemsworth’s Mjolnir was returned to its proper time period at the end of the film. So it begs the question as to how Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster can wield Mjolnir when it, quite literally, no longer exists in the current Marvel Cinematic Universe.
According to this theory, when Odin died the spell that he placed on Mjolnir was broken much like the spell that kept Hela in place was as well. Therefore, it is possible that this new Mjolnir was forged from the pieces of the old one and was no longer under the spell that Odin placed on the hammer in the first film. Or, Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, like Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, is simply worthy and the new Mjolnir comes from another dimension:
Odin’s enchantments disappear when he died, and that’s why Hela was released from her imprisonment. Therefore, Mjolnir’s spell (“Whosoever holds…”) was lifted too. Which is in a way why Hela could stop it and destroy it. The one in Endgame was still enchanted though because it was time displaced.
Therefore, in Love & Thunder, if Jane has to be worthy to hold the hammer, it has to come from a different time or multiverse. If it’s just assembled from the shards left in Norway (I presume in New Asgard now), she technically does not need to be worthy.
What do you all make of this theory? Do you think it could be that Odin’s spell on Mjolnir was broken after he died? What do you think of Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster wielding Mjolnir instead of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Kevin Feige announced Thor: Love and Thunder as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4 slate during the Marvel Studios San Diego Comic-Con panel in July. Thor: Ragnarok helmer Taika Waititi was confirmed to return along with Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. Natalie Portman was also confirmed to return and was shown wielding Mjolnir on stage, revealing the nature of her role in the film.
Natalie Portman was reportedly disappointed with how Marvel Studios dismissed original The Dark World director Patty Jenkins’ vision for that film before her exit from the project over creative differences. This is believed to have played a part in Natalie Portman leaving the franchise altogether, but her brief role through archival footage in Avengers: Endgame kept her stamp within the Marvel Cinematic Universe as relevant to the ongoing plot, and now that she can step in the role of the new Thor she has an opportunity to have a stronger heroic presence compared to her previous portrayal as Chris Hemsworth’s love interest.
Directed by Taika Waititi, Thor: Love and Thunder stars Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, and Natalie Portman. The film will be based on Jason Aaron’s Mighty Thor comic book run, with Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster set to become the new Thor.
Thor: Love and Thunder opens in theaters on November 5, 2021. Stay tuned for the latest news on Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and the future of the MCU!
Source: Reddit