In under a week, Thor: Love and Thunder hits theaters, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to roll onward.
Thor will be the first MCU character to get four solo films when Love and Thunder debuts on July 8, 2022. This follow-up film to Thor, Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok is set to show us why the God of Thunder deserves this fourth film.
Taika Waititi directed Thor 4 as he did with Ragnarok, but this time around he also split writing duties with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. Love and Thunder stars Chris Hemsworth, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Jaimie Alexander, Waititi, Russell Crowe, and Natalie Portman. Run time is 119 minutes.
Waititi second outing as director will be the sixth film in the MCU’s Phase 4 and the 29th film in the universe overall.
What You Need To Know
Following the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), Thor attempts to find inner peace, but must return to action and recruit Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster—who has become the Mighty Thor—to stop Gorr the God Butcher from eliminating all gods.
We last saw Thor in Endgame, around three years ago, when he set off with the Peter Quill and the Guardians of the Galaxy to find new adventures and purpose in life.
Jane Foster has been absent from the MCU for longer with her last appearance coming in Thor: The Dark World (2013). Although she did have some screen time in Endgame via archival footage. Thor and Jane have since split up and she apparently now has the ability to lift Mjolnir.
Thor 4 will introduce a new villain to the MCU with Bale’s performance as Gorr The God Butcher.
What To Watch
Of course it makes sense to watch the first three Thor films to get a basis on who the God of Thunder is as a character. Watching The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame are also required viewing.
To get an idea on who these wacky Guardians are, Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 would also be highly recommended.
For a list on our recommended watching order of these films, visit our Marvel Cinematic Universe Watch Order. The order will be updated once Love and Thunder hits theaters.
What To Read
With the addition of Gorr The God Butcher, reading Jason Aaron and Esad Ribić run of Thor: God of Thunder from the 2012-2013 during the Marvel NOW! initiative. Gorr’s first appearance in comic form comes in issue two of that series.
Jane Foster becomes The Mighty Thor in issue 25 of the Aaron / Ribić run of Thor: God of Thunder. Her first solo series is The Mighty Thor from 2015 by Aaron and Russell Dauterman.
Lastly, it’s never a bad time to read Thor’s first appearance in Journey Into Mystery issue 83.
