Everything
Look, I’m not saying that purely based on the one-and-a-half-minutes long trailer of Taika Waititi’s hotly anticipated Thor: Love and Thunder that the latest instalment in the MCU is awesome…but I am 100 per cent saying that purely based solely on the one-and-a-half-minutes-long trailer of Taika Waititi’s hotly anticipated Thor: Love and Thunder that the latest instalment in the MCU is awesome.
From the second the opening chords of Guns ‘n’ Roses ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ start playing, the teaser glimpse of archival Thor-wear with the yellow boots and horns to the Rocky-esque workout montage with some major chains used as battle ropes – this writer was hooked.
It’s been three years since we last caught up with the Prince of Asgard after he, The Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and his wizard buddies, Captain Marvel, Black Panther and the warriors of Wakanda, Ant-Man and the Wasp and a few others that I might have forgotten about handed Thanos’ butt to him in a bedazzled glove. Since then, it looks like our favourite Thunder God has undergone a process of reflection. Maybe read a few self-help books. He’s definitely signed up for Centr, the fitness app launched by Chris Hemsworth.
But it’s not all Celestine Prophecy and HIIT. Thor’s got a new nemesis, several new looks and a potentially electric new love interest – himself. Female Thor. Aka Jane Foster played by Natalie Portman who marks her first return to the franchise since The Dark World in 2013. Seems like Loki and Thor are more alike than they realised.
Also joining the line-up for this film is Russell Crowe as Olympian Zeus, Christian Bale as the film’s big bad, Gorr the God Butcher along with familiar faces Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie; Guardians crew Chris Pratt, David Bautista, Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff.
Already the trailer has clocked up a whopping 209 million views – suffice to say Marvel fans are keen to see what’s been going on with the Strongest Avenger.
World's strongest Avenger with the world's best fans! Thank you for the 209M views in 24hrs! 💪⚡️ https://t.co/nKeNXBX7Wo pic.twitter.com/FsiuDR1MS4
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) April 19, 2022
Waititi’s take on the Thor series has been an interesting diversion away from the MCU aesthetic. More rock ‘n’ roll music video in colour palette, its pathos is deftly delivered through the native sarcasm and awkward directness of Waititi’s New Zealand heritage. Some have pointed out it takes away from the Shakespearean seriousness of the original Kenneth Branagh film but people – this is a movie based on a comic book. It’s meant to be fun.
Thor: Love and Thunder is out in cinemas on July 7.
