As Chris Hemsworth is likely to leave the MCU sooner rather than later, Marvel is setting up three possible candidates to become the next Thor.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has skillfully set up three possible replacements for Thor, which could come in handy as his exit from the MCU may be coming sooner than expected. Actor Chris Hemsworth recently received confirmation from his doctors that he is at higher risk for Alzheimer’s than most, and he has since stated that he wants to take a break from acting. That does leave the MCU without the steady presence of the God of Thunder, a character that has been around for over 10 years.
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As Marvel prepares to enter Phase 5 of the MCU, the studio is gradually setting up new teams such as the Thunderbolts and the Young Avengers. As it does this, Marvel is slowly working to phase out the original cast, such as giving Clint Barton a send-off in 2021’s Hawkeye, concluding with his retirement and Kate Bishop’s status as Hawkeye’s successor. Even without Hemsworth wanting to step down from the role, Marvel has been planning possible replacements for Thor for a while. As it stands, there are three potential candidates in the form of Love, a returning Mighty Thor, and an as-yet unseen Beta Ray Bill. Here’s how each of Thor’s possible MCU replacements could enter the fray.
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How Love Could Replace Thor In The MCU
At the conclusion of Thor: Love and Thunder, Thor became a dad. Love was originally the daughter of Gorr the God Butcher, so Thor adopted the child of his enemy which goes to show how far his character has come since the first Thor movie. Love can be seen alongside Thor wielding Stormbreaker as they fight together to protect an unknown land as the film ends, despite Love appearing to be a small child, demonstrating the character’s impressive power potential.
After an argument over pancakes (or “panflaps“, as Thor calls them) it is revealed how powerful Love is. In a fit of frustration, she blasts laser energy out of her eyes, with Thor narrowly avoiding the blast. She also appears to be intellectually advanced, as she can be seen reading The Foster Theory at the kitchen table. While Love may appear young, she is from a different planet and could be the equivalent of a teenager or even older, making her more than capable of inheriting Thor’s position.
Love could be the perfect replacement for Thor in the MCU. As he will have helped raise her, she will likely want to carry on his legacy and service to helping people through her own actions. She already uses one of his weapons in battle and has powers of her own, meaning that with some training she could fight her own battles with ease. While Love’s next MCU appearance is still unconfirmed, she could be a solid choice to officially replace Thor in the MCU.
Could Jane Foster Return Again To Replace Thor?
Despite the conclusion of Thor: Love and Thunder, Jane Foster may yet have a future in the MCU as Thor’s replacement. She made a shocking comeback in Thor: Love and Thunder after her MCU absence following Thor: The Dark World. Jane took up the mantel of the Mighty Thor and fought side by side with Thor, the two of them eventually mending their differences and becoming a couple once again. Sadly, the movie concluded with Jane dying and going to Valhalla where audiences also got to see Heimdall again for the first time since his own death in Avengers: Infinity War.
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In Marvel, deaths do not always have to be permanent though, and it is possible that Jane could be Thor’s replacement even if she is dead (for now). One theory suggests that Thor’s next MCU appearance could see him sacrifice himself to revive Jane, Heimdall, and others who have likely gone to Valhalla, such as the Loki from the original timeline. This could easily complete Thor’s character arc as he started out similar to Iron Man in terms of his arrogance. A sacrifice play to bring back those he loves would be a beautiful send-off for the character and open up doors for more Asgardian stories. Should Jane indeed return, her heroic role in Love and Thunder proves that she is more than capable of sustaining a compelling heroic arc as a character in her own right.
How The MCU Has Set Up Beta Ray Bill
Beta Ray Bill would certainly be the biggest surprise as Thor’s replacement but the MCU has actually been working to set up the character. Beta Ray Bill debuted in The Mighty Thor in 1983, one of the first and only other characters able to wield Mjolnir. Beta Ray Bill was actually the original hero to wield Stormbreaker and he and Thor used the two famous weapons to fight side by side. He was heavily rumored to appear in Thor: Love and Thunder, with the trailer even setting up his debut, but didn’t make any appearances, though it’s not out of the cards for him to still claim his spot in the MCU.
The MCU has set up Beta Ray Bill well, with the addition of Stormbreaker and Thor’s adventures on Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok. In the comics, Beta Ray Bill fought on Sakaar similar to how the Hulk did before Thor brought him back to Earth. Beta Ray is also not from Earth (or Asgard), hailing from an alien race called the Korbinites. While Thor has parted ways with the Guardians of the Galaxy, and it is confirmed that Hemsworth will not be in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, there is a theory that Beta Ray Bill could replace Thor in the upcoming Guardians movie. It would be a fitting movie for him to make his debut, since the Guardians could easily run into him on their space adventures, and they already have ties to Thor.
Who Should Replace Thor In The MCU
Thor’s official MCU replacement is a weighty decision and one that has likely already been discussed by Marvel executives, especially given Chris Hemsworth’s desire to exit the MCU sooner rather than later. While any of the possible Thor-related characters that have been set up could provide for a strong replacement, Love would make the most sense to carry on the mantel, or rather hammer, of Thor.
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Love could easily join the roster of the Young Avengers, given her age. Many of the up-and-coming replacements for the Avengers have been a younger cast, such as Riri Williams replacing Iron Man or Kate Bishop replacing Hawkeye. Instead of having a character such as Jane Foster, who has been around the MCU for a while, Love would fit in better with the new cast and be able to be a true replacement for Thor if she joined the Young Avengers. Having a younger cast to work with makes more sense for Marvel Studios as well, seeing as they will have years and possibly even decades to work with the same actors to tell the long form stories audiences have come to expect. No matter who the MCU selects to carry on Thor’s legacy, audiences can be confident that Asgard and Thor’s role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will carry on.
