According to reports, it looks like Academy Award winner Natalie Portman won’t be returning to her role as Jane Foster in the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok when it comes our way in fall 2017. In fact, it looks like Chris Hemsworth will have an all-new love interest, as actress Tessa Thompson is said to have been cast in a “key role” that is also said to be a new love interest for Thor.
Nerdist has reached out for comment from Marvel Studios, but had yet to hear back at the time of publication.
There were rumors during the making of the second Thor film that Portman was unhappy with that film’s loss of director Patty Jenkins — who is now directing Wonder Woman — and only appeared in that movie due to contract obligations. So if in fact she doesn’t appear, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise. It also appears that Jane Foster’s friends won’t be in the film either, as actor Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd told Den of Geek that he wouldn’t return as Dr. Erik Selvig. Without Jane, it’s also highly unlikely that her assistant Darcy (Kat Dennings) will show up, either.
It will be interesting to see how the third movie deals with Thor and Jane’s relationship ending, as it’s been something of the central crux of the first two movies, outside of Thor’s relationship with his brother Loki. In Thor: The Dark World, Thor literally gave up a life on Asgard to be with his mortal love Jane, so it would be very underwhelming after two films of build up surrounding their relationship to find out she dumped him via text or something in between films (or even worse, that she was killed off).
So far though, most fans aren’t crying too much about this potential loss. Unlike Iron Man and Pepper Potts, or Captain America and Peggy Carter, the Thor/Jane Foster romance didn’t quite land with audiences in the same way as it did with those other Marvel heroes (although, for the record, I thought they were cute together. Or maybe Portman and Hayden Christiansen’s “chemistry” in Star Wars lowered the bar for me).
Besides — what if Tessa Thompson’s “key role” is that of Monica Rambeau, otherwise known as Captain Marvel, Photon, or Pulsar? We would totally be here for that, just sayin’.
Thor: Ragnarok is being directed by Taika Waititi and is set to co-star fellow Avenger Mark Rufallo as the Hulk. Also rumored to appear is Cate Blanchett in a villainous role, which has led many to speculate either Hela or the Enchantress. Thor: Ragnarok is slated to hit theaters on November 3, 2017.
What do you think of a Thor film with no Natalie Portman? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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Image: Marvel Studios
