Marvel made it clear in Avengers: Endgame that some of the most popular characters that had been ever-present in the MCU over the years would be no more. The franchise is considered one of the best out there and the epic 2019 offering marked a turning point for it – it was clear that the films would be taking off in a slightly different direction in the years that followed. Two of the series’ biggest names left, but it was apparent that Thor would be one of the longstanding characters who would be staying. The legendary god played by Chris Hemsworth could be one of the aspects of the MCU that remains constant as it goes through its various phases.
Endgame: End of an Era for Some Characters
Avengers: Endgame was released nearly two years ago, so there are few people who are still in the dark about how it played out. If you still haven’t seen it, though, here is your spoiler alert. Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man heroically saved the day, sacrificing himself in the process. Another mainstay, Chris Evans’ Captain America, opted to travel back in time to spend his days with his childhood sweetheart. It’s unlikely that the two characters will feature again in upcoming offerings. This could be considered a good thing, as it shows that the MCU is aware of the need to avoid stagnation.
While it spelt the end of an era for some characters, it would have been crazy to wipe the slate completely clean. For the MCU to continue being the incredible cash cow that it is, it will need to keep hold of a lot of the fan favourites. Hemsworth’s Thor could now be considered the main crowd-pleaser, and the series’ longstanding hero. With there being almost endless possibilities for the Viking god, there are likely to be many more films featuring him in the later phases of the MCU.
Mass Appeal of Norse Themes Benefits Thor
Thor is one of the most popular Marvel characters in other media, and there have been countless games about the Asgardian god. Most recently, he was a playable character in Marvel’s Avengers for consoles. He also had his own standalone game in 2011. Thor: God of Thunder was an action game from Liquid Entertainment that was released alongside the Marvel Studios film about the hammer-wielding superhero.
Thor’s popularity also benefits from the fact that ancient Norse themes continue to be prevalent in popular culture. Asgard, for instance, is one of the most popular games at Wink Slots. This is a site recommended for having one of the most competitive free spins online casino bonuses for new players. Indeed, anyone joining the site can claim 30 free spins on two of the games at the site before enjoying Asgard and other titles.
On other gaming devices, there are plenty of titles about Thor along with offerings about Norse mythology in general. Northgard, for instance, is a popular title on Steam in which players take control of a clan of Vikings in a mysterious land. Age of Mythology from Ensemble Studios is another way to experience the classic gods from that era. It features ancient Egyptian and Greek deities as well.
Set to Appear in Fourth Thor Film in 2022
Thor fans can start getting excited because it has already been confirmed that there will be a sequel to Thor: Ragnarok which will be released in 2022. The next offering will be called Thor: Love and Thunder, and it will once again be directed by Taika Waititi. The New Zealand-born filmmaker has confirmed that the new title will have strong romance themes, and Natalie Portman will be welcomed back to the franchise after being absent from the third instalment.
The premise of the next Thor title is that Portman’s character, Jane Foster, takes on Thor’s powers after suffering from cancer. This follows the storyline that was first conceived in the Mighty Thor comic books. It will be an interesting twist on the previous films, which have all had a heavy focus on high octane action.
With Thor: Love and Thunder likely to take the character in a whole new direction, there is potential for a vast number of other sequels featuring the Asgardian god. At the same time, Thor is likely to continue to make appearances in the other Marvel offerings, acting as a crowd-pleaser to keep pulling audiences in.