The Australian actor was not sure about joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Chris Hemsworth is one of the most popular and successful actors in Hollywood, thanks to his iconic role as Thor, the God of Thunder, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, the star recently revealed that he almost turned down the offer to play the superhero, as he was having doubts about his career and the long-term commitment with Marvel.
In an interview with Sydney Morning Herald, Chris Hemsworth said that he was going through a rough patch professionally, and was getting negative feedback from auditions. He said, “I had 12 months where every audition I was getting worse feedback, I was getting more and more nervous and uncertain, thinking: what am I doing? Do I even want this? Trying to convince myself I didn’t want it so it didn’t hurt so much. And then something changed.”
Chris Hemsworth said that he stopped overthinking and started getting busy again. That’s when he got the call from his manager and lawyer, telling him that he got the offer to play Thor in the MCU. He said, “I just said ‘whatever’ and stopped thinking about it so much. Then I got busy again.” But he was not convinced yet, as he learned that it was a six-picture deal with Marvel.
Chris Hemsworth said, “I was crossing the road in Vancouver … and I remember the exact moment getting a call from my lawyer and my manager saying ‘you got the offer’. And then kind of going ‘oh wow, cool. So what is it?’ ‘It’s a superhero thing, and it’s a six-picture deal.’ And we were like ‘that’s a lot of films to sign up for. We should pass on this.’”
The decision that changed Chris Hemsworth life and career
Fortunately, Chris Hemsworth did not pass on the opportunity, and decided to take the risk and join the MCU. He said, “I’m glad I didn’t say no. I’m glad I had the opportunity to do it. It’s been the best thing that ever happened to me.” He also said that he was intimidated by the cast of the first Thor film, which included Oscar-winners Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins.Chris Hemsworth said, “The first time I played Thor was opposite Natalie Portman, and it was one of my first jobs, and I kept thinking I was going to get fired, or nothing was gonna work, or fans weren’t going to accept my version of the character.”
Hemsworth made his debut as Thor in 2011, and since then, he has appeared in eight MCU films, including four solo movies and four Avengers team-ups. He is the only actor in the MCU to have four solo films, and he is set to reprise his role in the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi. He has also become one of the highest-paid actors in the world, earning $76.4 million in 2019, according to Forbes.
Hemsworth’s portrayal of Thor has been praised by critics and fans alike, as he has shown his range and versatility in the role. He has also brought humor and charm to the character, especially in the third and fourth Thor films, which had a more comedic tone. He has also developed a great chemistry with his co-stars, such as Tom Hiddleston, who plays his brother Loki, the God of Mischief.
The future of Thor in the MCU
Hemsworth has expressed his interest in continuing to play Thor in the MCU, as long as the fans want him to. He said, “I’m not going into any retirement period. Thor is far too young for that. He’s only 1,500 years old. It’s definitely not a film that I say goodbye to this brand. At least I hope so.”
He also said that he is excited about the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder, which will feature the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, who will become the female Thor. He said, “It’s one of the best scripts I’ve read in years. It’s Taika at his most extreme, and at his best. If the version I read is the one we get running with, it’s going to be pretty insane.”
Thor: Love and Thunder is scheduled to be released on May 6, 2022, as part of Phase Four of the MCU. It will also star Christian Bale as the villain Gorr the God Butcher, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, and Chris Pratt as Star-Lord. The film will also feature appearances from other MCU characters, such as Korg, Miek, Nebula, and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Hemsworth has also hinted that there might be a fifth Thor film in the works, as he said, “There’s nothing more exciting than having a director with a different vision and different ideas. And I think that’s what Marvel has done so well. They’ve kept reinventing and reincarnating and reinvigorating the characters and the stories and the genre. And I definitely feel a renewed sense of excitement and enthusiasm, and more so than ever, I think. If there’s another great script that comes along, I’d be pretty stoked to jump back in.”
Hemsworth has also been rumored to appear in other MCU projects, such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Avengers 5, and Deadpool & Wolverine. However, none of these have been confirmed by Marvel Studios or the actor himself. For now, fans can look forward to seeing him wield the hammer once again in Thor: Love and Thunder, and hope that he will continue to be a part of the MCU for many years to come.
