The first trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder gave fans their first look at Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder in all his buff glory. Natalie Portman's Mighty Thor made a quick appearance at the end of the trailer, while the Guardians of the Galaxy also popped by the minute-and-a-half teaser.
However, Christian Bale's Gorr the God Butcher was MIA. Comic book fans already know the character, but mainstream audiences will likely meet him when the movie comes out. They shouldn't worry because Gorr is indeed a worthy villain for not one but two Thors, and he has the comic book history to prove it.
Gorr Isn't The Only God-Killer
Gorr has a reputation for being a god-killer in the comics, but he isn't the only of his kind. Desak Destroyer of Gods, the alien race known as the Uncreated, the creature Mangog, the Gorgon, the Inheritors, and the Japanese god of death Amatsu-Mikaboshi all preceded Gorr as god-killers, and some even have a higher kill count than Gorr.
The MCU often changes comic book villains to better suit the narrative of its ever-expanding universe, so Gorr might indeed be the sole god-killer in Love and Thunder. However, some of these other characters might get name-dropped as easter eggs for comic book fans.
Gorr Grew Up In A Barren Planet
Like many villains, Gorr has a tragic backstory. He grew up on a nameless, barren and nearly lifeless planet, deprived of many basic comforts due to the highly aggressive environment. His parents died when he was young, leaving him to defend himself. The people of his clan still believed in gods and prayed daily to them, to Gorr's puzzlement.
Thor: Love and Thunder will probably keep this backstory to explain Gorr's villainy. The MCU loves a good tragic villain, and Gorr's status as a pariah in the universe driven by childhood trauma is way too irresistible. Taika Waititi can also delicately handle thorny subjects, giving Gorr's story more emotional impact.
Gorr Denied The Gods
As previously mentioned, Gorr's parents died when he was still a child. Years later, he married the alien Arra and fathered several children who died from starvation. Arra also perished while pregnant, leaving Gorr alone and enraged at the gods, who never answered his prayers. This resentment led him to deny their existence, causing the people of his clan to banish him for his heresy.
Gorr's resentment towards the gods makes sense from his perspective. However, being a Marvel movie, Thor: Love and Thunder will probably not get too much into a religious debate. Still, Gorr's grudges will provide ample reasons for him to hunt down Thor and the Olympians.
Gorr Wields All-Black
Many Marvel characters have signature weapons, from Thor and Mjölnir to Black Knight and his Ebony Blade. Gorr also wields All-Black the Necrosword, which he found on the body of a dead god. All-Black provides him with enhanced abilities, including matter manipulation, regeneration, and enhanced durability, strength, and stamina.
Gorr is on the brink of death when he first finds and bonds with All-Black, meaning that without the sword, he'll most likely die. However, because Gorr didn't appear in the teaser trailer, fans still don't know if he'll indeed wield All-Black in Love and Thunder.
Gorr Almost Killed Thor
There's no doubt that Thor has many cool villains in the comics, many of which have already made their MCU debut. However, Gorr has a place of honor, as he's one of the few to best him in battle. Gorr arrives at Earth in the 9th century, finding Thor with a band of Vikings. After several fierce battles, Gorr almost succeeds in killing the God of Thunder, but eventually, Thor prevails and cuts off Gorr's arm, believing he got rid of the Butcher for good.
Because Marvel films follow a very similar structure, fans can anticipate that Gorr will indeed fight and almost kill Thor during their first encounter. Thor will be saved either by Valkyrie or Mighty Thor, giving him enough time to recover and face Gorr again.
Gorr Commands An Army
True to his supervillain persona, Gorr commands a large army of minions known as the Black Berserkers. The Berserkers come from the Newcrosword, so Gorr considers them an extension of himself. The Butcher uses the Berserkers to eliminate those who ask about the gods he kills, thus cleaning his tracks.
It's unclear if the Berserkers will appear in Love and Thunder, but chances are they will. After all, the final act of a Marvel movie tends to include a massive battle against an army of CGI characters, and the Berserkers fit this description to a tee.
Gorr Created The Godbomb
The Godbomb was an explosive device built by Gorr to further his agenda. Said to be the size of a moon, the Godbomb was the original creation of Shadak the God of Bombs. Gorr built it over 400 years, using many materials, including the heart of an Elder God. He succeeded in detonating it, but Thor absorbed the blast using two Mjölnirs.
The MCU already has several incredible weapons, and the Godbomb seems like a prime candidate to the team. Furthermore, it sounds like the perfect plan for Gorr in Love and Thunder and would explain why Thor and Mighty Thor team up in the first place.
Gorr Dies In Battle
Many comic book villains meet their demise at the hands of a hero. However, it took three Thors to bring down Gorr, who managed to defeat them all thanks to the many powers he achieved thanks to the Necrosword. However, after Thor stops the Godbomb, Gorr gets weakened enough for King Thor to kill him.
Considering Love and Thunder will come out after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness likely rewrites the MCU's rules, there's a chance the three Thors will appear in the movie. However, considering Mighty Thor will also be there, the final battle will probably be between Gorr and two Thors.
Gorr Gets Resurrected By King Loki
Loki is Thor's archenemy and the cause of most of the God of Thunder's problems over the centuries. True to his duplicitous reputation, King Loki eventually becomes All-Black's host and resurrects Gorr. However, the Butcher crucified Loki and Thor and mocked them before escaping to wreak havoc.
With Loki off to Disney+, it's unlikely he'll appear in Love and Thunder. However, a Loki variant stealing All-Black and using it to resurrect Gorr sounds like the perfect post-credit scene for the movie, setting up a potential second film in a new Thor trilogy.
Gorr Achieves Peace In The End
Gorr once again battles Thor after his resurrection but fails again. Restored to his mortal form once separated from All-Black, Gorr loses his mind, confirming he wouldn't be a problem for Thor again. In his new unstable condition, he leaves with the Sky Lords of Indigarr to live the rest of his days in peace.
This ending sounds perfect for an already tragic character, and the MCU might want to keep it. Furthermore, it would leave the door open for Christian Bale to return down the line. Only time will tell, but Gorr will surely make for a great villain in Thor: Love and Thunder.
