Thor: Love and Thunder Cast, Trailer, and Release Date

It’s been five years since we enjoyed Thor: Ragnarok, director Taika Waititi’s bold departure from the first two Thor films. 

But thankfully, we won’t need to wait for Thor: Love and Thunder to hit the big screen much longer. 

So what does this incredible director and powerhouse cast have in store for us this time? How will they build on the success of Ragnarok to continue telling the story of this soul-searching god we all know and love? 

Here’s everything we know about the next Thor movie.

Thor: Love and Thunder: What’s In Store for Our Favorite God

We all know that Marvel Studios is historically tight-lipped about movie reveals. We have to piece together what the cast and crew have said in various interviews to have any idea of what’s in store.

Director Taika Waititi will return for his second Thor movie as director and voice of Korg. He took the franchise in a completely different thematic direction with Ragnarok and it killed with both audiences and the box office. He promised that this film is “going to be bigger and louder and more bombastic. It’s only interesting to me if we’re doubling down on how nuts ‘Ragnarok’ was.” 

We know that not only does he control the creative direction as a director, but he also wrote this script. Chris Hemsworth, our Thor, said it’s “one of the best scripts I’ve read in years. It’s Taika at his most extreme, and at his best. If the version I read is the one we get running with, it’s going to be pretty insane.” This interview came out a few years ago, so we’re certain changes have been made to the script. But hopefully, the spirit of that incredible story we’ve been promised will stay the same.

And what do we have in store for our storyline? Natalie Portman, who’s making her return to the Marvel franchise, said it’s based heavily on Mighty Thor, a graphic novel that follows Jane Foster as Mighty Thor. In the graphic novel, she fights two battles: one against foes as a superhero, and another against her body as she suffers from breast cancer. Whether or not her cancer battle got included has not yet been confirmed officially.

Official Synopsis

The official synopsis reads, “The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.”

While the official synopsis is all we have to go on for the official report of what the movie will include, there’s an interesting fan theory circulating that has some weight to it. Many think that with the inclusion of Zeus (played by Russell Crowe), Thor: Love and Thunder might introduce a crossover with Moon Knight. We’re game for anything that gives us more Oscar Isaac, so count us in.

Thor: Love and Thunder Cast

On the official Marvel Studios page for Thor: Love and Thunder, the cast includes Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster/Mighty Thor and…Christian Bale?

Do my eyes deceive me? He didn’t make an appearance in the trailer.

On the IMDB page for the movie, it says we’ll have him appear as Gorr the God Butcher, a known supervillain from the comics. Consider us intrigued and excited.

The trailer also features the Guardians of the Galaxy crew. So we’ll definitely have Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord. Bradley Cooper returns as the voice of Rocket. Pom Klementieff stars as Mantis, Vin Diesel is back as the voice of Groot. Karen Gillan returns as Nebula. And Dave Bautista is back as Drax. Unfortunately, Gamora’s death in Avengers: Infinity War excludes her from the movie.

We also have a few other promising additions featured on the IMDB page, such as Russell Crowe as Zeus. We’ll also have the God actors back with Matt Damon returning as Actor Loki. Melissa McCarthy debuting as Actor Hela. And Luke Hemsworth returning as Actor Thor. A two-for-one Hemsworth special! And we have Jaimie Alexander back as Sif, an Asgardian warrior from Thor: The Dark World.

While Taika Waititi directs, we’ll also get him as the beloved voice of Korg.

Thor: Love and Thunder Posters

Thor: Love and Thunder Trailer

Looking at the trailer, we can see that we’re going to get the same fun-loving energy and bright color palette that we enjoyed with Thor: Ragnarok. The theming for the third installment of the Thor franchise was a departure from the tones from the first two films. We’re excited to see that shift continue. And with the “Sweet Child of Mine” playing in the background and the rock and roll themed logo, we can assume that we’ll enjoy some sweet tunes in the background.

Plus, we’re guaranteed more crossover with the Guardians of the Galaxy crew, which we’ve thoroughly enjoyed in the past.

And the teaser at the end of Natalie Portman’s return? In full Mighty Thor armor? Unparalleled excitement.

Here’s the trailer for you to check out on your own!

Thor: Love and Thunder Release Date

Take heart, champions; we needn’t wait for the fourth installment of the Thor franchise much longer.

Thor: Love and Thunder will make its way into theaters on July 8, 2022. Until then, we’ll be rewatching the Star Wars prequels and the Batman trilogy to get excited about Natalie Portman’s return to the MCU and Christian Bale’s return to the comic book source material.