Earlier this week we reported that actress Natalie Portman would not be returning as the God of Thunder’s main squeeze Jane Foster in the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok. Instead, all signs were pointing towards actress Tessa Thompson being cast as Thor’s new love interest, who was being described as “a sort of superhero.” Now the folks at Latino Review are saying that they know who Thompson will be playing, and it’s longtime Marvel Comics heroine Valkyrie.
Valkyrie first appeared in the pages of The Avengers in the early ’70s, and was known as Brunnhilde, selected by Odin to lead the Valkyrior (the Asgardians who roam battlefields and select the honorable dead to enter into Valhalla). In the comics, the spirit of Brunnhilde would then inhabit the host bodies of various mortal women on Earth, most famously Samantha Parrington and later, Barbara Norris. The Barbara Norris version would end up becoming a mainstay of the Marvel super team the Defenders for that series’ entire run. She’d also rock a cone bra decades before Madonna ever did.
Over the years, she has been an on-again, off-again love interest for Thor, so her inclusion in the film makes total sense. Also, one of her earliest appearances was fighting the Hulk, and since we know that Mark Ruffalo will be co-starring as the Jade Giant in this movie, that’s another clue that Valkyrie is likely to appear. Valkyrie is also a character that would be great to include down the line in whatever Marvel is planning, be it Avengers: Infinity War or even a possible second season of Defenders, should that ever come to pass.
Nerdist has reached out for comment, but had not heard back by the time of publication. We will update you with more information as it becomes available.
Thor: Ragnarok is scheduled to start shooting soon, with Taika Waititi directing, and starring Chris Hemsworth once again as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Idris Elba as Heimdall, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, and Cate Blanchett as a mysterious villain (most likely Hela). The film hits theaters on November 3, 2017.
Curious how another potential hero will fit into Thor: Ragnarok? Watch this to find out!
Do you think Thompson would make a good Valkyrie? Let us know in the comments below.
Images: MGM, Warner Brothers / Marvel Comics
