Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Thor: Love and Thunder.
Taika Waititi's Thor: Love and Thunder's ending does close out one of Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder stories, but it also kicks off another thanks to a cliffhanger.
Chris Hemsworth as been very open about his willingness to make Thor movies for as long as he is welcome, even if his preference is to work with Taika Waititi. While the Love and Thunder director is very busy and may not have a lot of time to make Thor 5 any time soon, there can be no doubt that it's coming. A Marvel movie would not simply kill Thor off-screen between movies, after all. But Thor 5 is far from the only Marvel movie and TV show that Love and Thunder sets up.
Love and Thunder is the start of a whole new MCU era for Hemsworth's God of Thunder, as well as introducing his next Marvel enemy. In fact, the future set up by Thor: Love and Thunder potentially includes no fewer than 6 possible spin-offs and sequels. Here's the 6 Marvel movie and MCU TV show spin-offs set up by Thor: Love and Thunder's ending:
- Thor 5
- Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3
- The Avengers 5
- Young Avengers
- Hercules
- Jane Foster's Own Thor Movie/Show
Thor 5
You'd have to be deluded to question the fact that Thor: Love and Thunder mid-credits scene, it's clear the story would also include Hercules' quest to kill Thor and show humanity why superhero worship is so wrong.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3
The Guardians of the Galaxy are barely in Thor: Love and Thunder and feel like an inconvenience that needed to be quickly dealt with, thanks to the change to the Marvel movie release schedule that pushed Thor 4 ahead of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3. Ultimately, Chris Pratt's Star-Lord is key to Thor realizing that he needs to address his own issues and that his place isn't with the Guardians, but they're still a bit of a waste. That said, the Guardians leave Thor to help those in need across the universe as a result of Gorr's God-killing rampage, suggesting they're more overtly in the hero game. On top of that, Peter Quill mentions losing his love, reminding viewers that Gamora's missing status will still be a major part of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 story.
The Avengers 5
The biggest unannounced Marvel movie set for the MCU's future is undoubtedly The Avengers 5. No brand that big or lucrative will ever go on ice for too long, even if Kevin Feige says there won't be more Avengers movies. And though there is likely to be an entirely new Avengers team for Phase 5, Thor's continued presence in the MCU after Love and Thunder makes him a viable (and likely) returning Avengers team member. Interestingly, because of Chris Hemsworth's tenure as Thor, he'd probably be the most likely candidate to replace Robert Downey Jr as the lynchpin of the franchise. Doctor Strange is obviously being positioned as an Avengers figurehead too, and Mark Ruffalo is still around, while Captain Marvel's powers also push her forward, but none have Hemsworth's longevity. If he's still making Thor movies when Avengers 5 is announced, he'll be in it.
Young Avengers
The MCU's cast for the inevitable, but unannounced Young Avengers Marvel movie has been taking shape for some time, and there are two characters introduced in Thor: Love and Thunder who could be part of the team. Both Axl Heimdallson and Love (who probably won't be called Thorsdóttir, given she calls him Uncle Thor) would be incredibly powerful candidates, and having cosmic characters involved would make sense. If either is called up by the Young Avengers, they'd other potentials Kate Bishop, Harley Keener, Cassie Lang, Ironheart, Ms Marvel and America Chavez, and maybe even Kid Loki. It's only a matter of time before an MCU Young Avenges is officially announced.
Hercules
While Thor: Love and Thunder's mid-credits scene seems to logically set up the events of Thor 5, with Russell Crowe's Zeus and his son playing the antagonists, it's unlike this will be the last we see of Brett Goldstein's Hercules. He's a legitimate Avengers candidate, as strong as Thor and Hulk and a long-awaited addition to the MCU. Using him only as a villain in Thor 5 is as illogical as it is unlikely, and Hercules will get his own properties somewhere down the line. Whether that's a movie or a TV show remains to be seen, but if characters of the level of Ms Marvel, Echo, and Agatha Harkness can have their own shows, Hercules will definitely get a headline opportunity too. Before then, the chance to see two of the strongest ever Avengers fighting for real will be an incredible spectacle for a future Marvel movie.
A Jane Foster Stand-Alone Movie
Thor: Love and Thunder's post-credits scene reveals that Natalie Portman's Mighty Thor made it to Valhalla having died after the battle with Gorr, which suggests Jane Foster is dead. But then again, Jane Foster has escaped Valhalla before, in Jason Aaron's Thor run for Marvel comics - the same run Love and Thunder was inspired by (Aaron is listed as a consultant in the credits). If Natalie Portman wants to return to the MCU and play Jane Foster again, there is precedent in Marvel to suggest how she'd get out (Odin and Thor team up to make it happen), and she could even graduate to her own movie or show, perhaps as the replacement for Valkyrie as the leader of her possibly revived Asgardian warriors, as she was in the comics. The MCU's King Valkyrie storyline does make room for that, as an alternative to Mighty Thor, even if fan demand calls for her Thor to return after Thor: Love and Thunder.
Every Marvel Movie Coming After Thor: Love and Thunder
MCU Phase 4 & 5 Confirmed Movies & TV Shows
- She-Hulk: Attorney At Law — August 17, 2022
- Untitled Halloween special - October 2022
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — November 11, 2022
- The Guardian of the Galaxy Holiday Special — December 2022
- I Am Groot - TBD 2022
- What If…? Season 2 — TBD 2022
- Secret Invasion — TBD 2022
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania — February 17, 2023
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 — May 5, 2023
- The Marvels — July 28, 2023
- Echo — TBD 2023
- Blade - TBD
- Spider-Man: Freshman Year - TBD
- Fantastic Four — TBD
- Agatha: House of Harkness – TBD
- Armor Wars — TBD
- Ironheart — TBD
- Untitled Wakanda Series – TBD
- Marvel Zombies - TBD
- Daredevil - TBD
- Deadpool 3 - TBD
- Shang-Chi 2 - TBD
- Thunderbolts - TBD
Other Marvel Movies & TV Shows
- Kraven the Hunter - 2023
- Madame Web - 2023
- El Muerto - 2024
- Untitled Venom: Let There Be Carnage sequel - TBD
- Silk (TV) - TBD
- Silver & Black (TV) - TBD
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