Times are changing for MCU fans, as Chris Hemsworth seems to be closing out his extended tenure as the Norse god/galaxy-saving superhero, Thor. While the character is set to return later this year in Avengers: Doomsday, his future with the franchise seems uncertain after the latest round of updates.
Chris Hemsworth recently unveiled a new look for his upcoming film, Kockroach, in which he appears much slimmer than fans are used to seeing him in the role of Thor. For the first time in recent memory, Hemsworth isn’t in “superhero shape,” leading some MCU enthusiasts to wonder if his time fighting the Avengers is over.
Is Chris Hemsworth Done Playing Thor in the MCU?
Chris Hemsworth’s new look for Kockroach may signal the end of Thor’s time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor is known to maintain a bulky, muscular physique, remaining in “superhero shape” between appearances as the god of thunder. However, as the end of the Multiverse Saga approaches, it seems like conspicuous timing that Hemsworth has suddenly dropped the muscles and slimmed down.
This comes just six months before Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters, marking Thor’s first MCU appearance since 2022. Hemsworth is one of the principal cast members of the upcoming crossover event and was featured in one of the film’s character teasers late last year. His trailer was particularly somber, leading some fans to worry that Thor could meet his end.
Marvel Studios has been cagey about whether or not Chris Hemsworth would return as Thor beyond the Multiverse Saga, which concludes with Avengers: Secret Wars in December 2027. While there were rumors of a potential fifth Thor film that would bring the character back to his roots as a Shakespearean deity, nothing official has ever been announced.
Moreover, the MCU seems headed for a partial timeline reset after Secret Wars, with some iconic characters recast for the franchise’s new era. Included among those expected to be recast are Iron Man and Captain America, who, along with Thor, make up the MCU’s “Big Three” superheroes. If Marvel ever plans to reset Thor’s storyline, the time immediately following Secret Wars would be the best to do it.
This would truly be the end of an era for Marvel. Chris Hemsworth has been the face of Thor for over a decade, first appearing in the character’s self-titled 2011 film. Since then, he has starred in three sequels and four Avengers films, becoming one of the MCU’s most prominent characters. Saying goodbye to Thor after all this time would be devastating for MCU fans, but it is becoming more and more of a distinct possibility as Avengers: Doomsday inches closer.
Will Thor Appear in Avengers: Secret Wars?
If Chris Hemsworth really is preparing to take his final bow as Thor, one question remains: How much longer before his exit? Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars together make up the two-part finale of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. While Thor will appear in the first of these films, he has yet to be confirmed for the second.
Kockroach notably wrapped filming this week, with production on Secret Wars expected to begin in August. This would only give Hemsworth two months to get back into Thor shape. This leaves fans wondering if he’s set to appear in the sixth Avengers film at all, or if the plan is to kill Thor off in Doomsday.
Avengers: Doomsday will feature several major deaths, as most Avengers movies do. A film of this magnitude does seem like the perfect place to kill off a character as massive as Thor, especially with the arrival of Doctor Doom. Perhaps Thor will sacrifice himself in an epic showdown with Robert Downey Jr.’s supervillain, giving his allies the chance to fight another day. Or, perhaps the film will give Thor a happier ending, allowing him to ride off into the sunset to live out the rest of his days in peace.
Of course, it should be noted that the close production schedules of Doomsday and Secret Wars make it possible for Hemsworth to have already filmed his scenes for both. The upcoming Avengers films are both directed by the Russo Brothers and feature much of the same crew, making it easy for actors to film certain scenes well in advance based on their availability. It may be that audiences are worrying over Thor without any reason, and that the character will be alive and well by the end of the Multiverse Saga.
Still, the timing of Chris Hemsworth’s transformation is conspicuous, to say the least. With so many massive changes planned for the MCU in the coming years, it may finally be time to say goodbye to Thor.
What Does the MCU Look Like Without Thor?
The post-Secret Wars MCU may not feature Thor if the rumors about Chris Hemsworth’s exit are true. This would potentially lead to an MCU without any of the “big three” main characters that helped kick off the franchise in the first place. Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor would all be officially retired after the Multiverse Saga, leaving room for other heroes like Spider-Man, Shang-Chi, and Ms. Marvel to take their place.
This doesn’t mean that there won’t be anyone to fill Thor’s shoes as the new god of thunder. At different times in the comics, other characters have stepped up to replace Thor. Chris Hemsworth’s exit could leave the door open for the MCU to reintroduce Jane Foster, who already wielded the power of Thor in Love and Thunder, though it seems unlikely that Natalie Portman would be up to a bigger role.
Alternatively, someone else could fill Thor’s niche as the MCU’s resident space-faring superhero. Audiences have wanted to see Beta Ray Bill in the franchise for years now, and Thor’s exit would set up the perfect opportunity to finally bring the character into live-action. In the comics, Beta Ray Bill is a close friend and associate of Thor who wields the axe Stormbreaker.
On the other hand, Marvel Studios has already set up another perfect Thor replacement in Brett Goldstein’s Hercules, who was introduced at the end of Thor: Love and Thunder. Hercules would be the perfect entry point for an entirely new pantheon of gods who haven’t been fully explored in the MCU yet. It would be thrilling to see Marvel delve deeper into Greek mythology with a Hercules franchise, which would be the perfect successor to the Thor movies.
Of course, there is always the possibility that Marvel merely recasts Thor for the next saga. It seems likely that the MCU is headed for a partial timeline reset after Avengers: Secret Wars, with some major characters set to be recast. Included on this list are heavy hitters like Iron Man and Captain America. If Chris Hemsworth really is done as Thor, a timeline reset would be the perfect way to explain a recast, allowing a new actor to play the god of thunder for the foreseeable future.
Thor’s future hangs in the balance as the Marvel Cinematic Universe edges closer to the end of the Multiverse Saga. Audiences may finally have to say goodbye to the god of thunder when Avengers: Doomsday finally hits theaters in December.
Avengers: Doomsday will premiere on December 18, 2026.