The Mighty Thor, played by Natalie Portman who reprises her role as the now Mjolnir-wielding Jane Foster.
With even Jane – who last featured prominently in 2013’s Avengers: Endgame when a variant Gamora from 2014 helped fight her adoptive father Thanos, after present-day Gamora was sacrificed on Vormir so he could obtain the Soul Stone. This variant came from a time before Gamora knew the Guardians and seemed to show no attachment to them, including her partner Star-Lord. The MCU’s Phase 3 finale ended with her whereabouts unclear.
Many speculate that the Guardians will only appear at the beginning of Thor: Love and Thunder before setting off on their own escapade and jumpstarting a hopefully redeeming storyline for Star-Lord. This doesn’t leave much opportunity to find Gamora and establish a relationship. While it’s possible Marvel is keeping her return under wraps until the theatrical release, Gamora likely isn’t a Guardian of the Galaxy in Thor: Love and Thunder because she is still missing, her trust needs to be re-established, and her ambiguity builds anticipation for her future in the MCU.
Gamora’s variant only recently defected from Thanos’ mission and is likely focused on protecting herself. Much like before, it will take time to earn her trust, so it would seem uncharacteristic for her to align with the Guardians right after Avengers: Endgame. Some speculate Gamora may follow an entirely different path than before and return as a villain. If this is true, it would make even less sense for her to appear in Thor: Love and Thunder, as its main villain is Gorr. Others hope that history will repeat itself and Star-Lord will find her on Xander once again. Whether a friend or foe, her location is still unknown and the Guardians must find her before they can attempt to re-establish their family.
Withholding Gamora until the Guardians’ third movie also serves to build anticipation for the next installment and her story without compromising on the success of current projects that focus on other narratives. As for her future, a few theories based on the comics and newer MCU characters are circulating, such as Gamora working with Adam Warlock, who first appeared in a Thanos’ brother Starfox.
Things are up in the air when it comes to the MCU’s Phase 4, especially with so many new characters in the mix. Continuing a Phase 3 crossover, the Guardians of the Galaxy will likely only appear to help connect Avengers: Endgame with the new Phase and hint at what can be expected in their third installment. While it is almost certain Gamora won’t be in Thor: Love and Thunder, there is always a chance she could appear in a post-credit scene, setting things up for the next Guardians of the Galaxy installment.
