TTo set the scene for the next Marvel movie in the series, the Marvel movie-stingers were used. End credits scene Iron Man gave us our first glimpse at Thor’s hammer before the first Thor movie debuted. Ending stinger Captain AmericaFeatured Nick Fury recruiting Steve Rogers to the Avengers team. Things are now more mysterious in the end credits scenes. While they plant seeds, we don’t know if or when we’ll see them bloom.
Let’s take, for example: the last act Thor: Love and ThunderA new superhero father-daughter team is introduced. Thor adopts the child of Gorr the Godbutcher (Christian Bale), a guy who was trying to kill him literal minutes before he entrusted him with his daughter’s life. Sure. Thor loves to make the girl pancakes and they both head off into battle as they would with their child in elementary school. At the end of the film, text appeared onscreen promising that “Thor will return,” but we don’t know when and whether this warrior child will be in tow.
We still have the promise that Thor will return in future adventures even after the credits roll. New villains are introduced, and there is a possibility of a spinoff. But given that Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige said this year that the Marvel producers were going on a summer retreat to figure out the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it doesn’t feel as if any of these plotlines are set in stone.
If you are looking to build some great things, however, there are plenty of fun blocks. Thor 5. ever does get made or characters like Jane (Natalie Portman) get a spinoff. Here’s everything you need to know about the Thor: Love and ThunderThe future potential implications of end credits scenes for the MCU
Learn More The Complete Marvel Post-Credits Scene
What happens at the middle of credits scene?
The film features Thor and Zeus in a brawl. Thor wanted Zeus and the other gods to help him fight Gorr the Godbutcher (Christian Bale), who—as you can perhaps guess from his name—poses a threat to all the gods. Zeus does not want to assist. Thor then kills Zeus using Zeus’ own thunderbolt, which (frankly) feels like a bit of an overreaction. Yes, Zeus had him handcuffed, but killing him?
Well, Zeus’ death doesn’t need to weigh on Thor’s conscious because it turns out that Zeus somehow survived. Nursing his lightning wound (again, an explanation on how he didn’t die would be helpful), Zeus bemoans the fact that mortals now worship superheroes instead of gods. “Now, they look to the sky, and they don’t ask us for lightning. They don’t ask us for rain. They just want to see one of their so-called superheroes,” he says. “When did we become the joke? No. No, they will fear us again.”
Then, he summons Hercules to assist him. The camera then pans to….Roy Kent!
Ok, Roy Kent is not the right actor, Brett Goldstein plays Roy Kent on the Emmy-winning, soccer dramedy Ted Lasso—an absurd and perfect casting choice. Uncommon knowledge: Ted LassoThe Apple TV+ program is warm and friendly about an American coach assigned to coaching a British football team. Roy Kent is a legendary soccer player on his last legs. His ever optimistic Midwestern coach Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis), is a perfect foil. He’s droll and supremely unhappy. He would make a great Hercules. Actors are so busy phoning in for these super heroes movies, it’d be great to have a part of the cast who isn’t annoyed by being drawn into this world.
(Apologies that this was a lengthy analysis. Ted LassoBut if you felt as overwhelmed by, Thor: Love and Thunder as TIME’s critic, Stephanie Zacharek, may I recommend a certain soccer show as a comedic palette cleanser?)
Natalie Portman portrays Jane Foster/Thor Thor: Love and Thunder
Disney
How does the scene end?
Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, who finally succumbed to cancer and died, arrives in Valhalla sporting a very obvious wig. It is thought that Jane’s bouncy haircut signals to her audience that Jane isn’t ailing any longer and to also signal that heaven will bring you automatic blowouts.
Jane is welcomed by Heimdall (IdrisElba), who, if you remember correctly was murdered by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. He was criminally underutilized in this franchise, considering that he was played directly by Stringer Bell.
Heimdall thanks Jane that she helped to save his son from Gorr. He explains that because Jane died a warrior’s death as Thor, she has been granted access to the godly afterlife. It is idyllic and looks beautiful.
There’s not much else to say about this one. However, I did spend a lot of time on the post credits analysis. Ted LassoI must mention, an unrelated property, that is not in this film. The WireIt’s a better show than Ted LassoElba does a great job in that area.
What does this mean for the MCU’s future?
Is Hercules the villain in the next Thor movie? Maybe. Is there a 5th Thor movie in the works? Most likely, given that “Thor will return” text. But we don’t know whether he’ll return in his own solo movie, in a Guardians of the GalaxyYou can also do it with a team of people. Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi, for one, has said that he hasn’t thought about a future movie. Thor vs. Hercules is theoretically a great movie. But also it’s been five years since the last Thor film, so don’t hold your breath.
There’s also not a lot of comics canon to support a big Hercules arc. Since the Marvel comics only have minor Greek characters, it would be a new idea to introduce a conflict between Greek and Norse gods. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The popularity of gods fighting is proof that it can be enjoyable. God of WarVideo games have proven to be a success. And Brett Goldstein’s grumpy Roy Kent on Ted Lasso could be the perfect foil to Chris Hemsworth’s increasingly goofy, Golden Retriver puppy-esque Thor. Goldstein and Waititi sound great together, particularly if both of them contribute to the script. Their contributions to the script are some of TV’s most loved comedies, including Waititi and Goldstein. Ted Lasso How we work in the Shadows.)
Jane Foster, Heimdall… This glimpse at Valhalla looks like it is setting up something important. We don’t know if Portman or Elba would star in a Disney+ TV show, but it’s likely they would return for a fifth Thor film. Thor has brought Jane Foster back from her death in comics. Jane and Heimdall are certainly possible returning to New Asgard.
You could also give these two actors a spinoff. However, a film that is solely about a perfect afterlife seems boring. Except, obviously, that Valhalla was attacked. We also learned that there were other non-Norse heroes of gods who ended up there, like Tony Stark. Now I’m just wildly speculating.
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