Thor 5 is officially in development at Marvel Studios, with Chris Hemsworth expected to return as the God of Thunder. Following the mixed reception of Thor: Love and Thunder, Marvel is retooling the franchise by searching for a new director, refining the tone, and positioning the film for a future MCU phase. While no release date has been announced yet, early reports suggest Thor 5 could arrive after Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, serving as a potential sendoff for Hemsworth’s long-running character.
Thor 5 Release Date: When Could the Sequel Arrive?
Looking back, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor has had quite a journey in the MCU. Debuting in 2011, Hemsworth’s Thor is the only character to have 4 solo films so far (with a 5th one probably on the way). He has also appeared in every single Avengers film. Nitpickers will be quick to point out that Captain America has had 4 films as well, but saying so would discount the reboot the character went through with Anthony Mackie taking up the mantle. Only Steve Rogers got to have a trilogy (and his third movie was basically Avengers 2.5). Also, Mackie’s first foray as the leading man in Captain America: Brave New World fell on its face, and it is unlikely that he will have another solo outing.
Why Marvel Is Replacing Thor 5’s Director
It is also pertinent to point out here that Thor: Love and Thunder had a less-than-stellar reception amongst both critics and fans alike. Not only did Thor 4 make less money than its predecessor (Thor Ragnarok), but the wild creative choices on display made it clear that Taika Waititi was running on fumes. From absolutely wasting Christian Bale’s Gorr to a finale where literal children fight monster henchmen, Thor 4 felt like it was made by kids, for kids.
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Chris Hemsworth on Fixing Thor’s MCU Arc
Marvel head Kevin Feige did indeed have an endgame in mind for Thor, considering Hemsworth’s fellow Avengers Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, and Scarlett Johansson have all segued out of the MCU. The creator of the post even added a blurb that quickly won over many fans. Marvel originally positioned the upcoming Avengers films, Doomsday and Secret Wars, as a farewell to Thor, but Hemsworth pushed for a more decisive exit—one that would correct the missteps of Thor: Love and Thunder and give the character the proper sendoff he deserves.
According to a piece in Variety, Hemsworth still can’t forgive himself for Love and Thunder. “I got caught up in the improv and the wackiness, and I became a parody of myself,” he says. “I didn’t stick the landing.” Of Course, he didn't; everyone who saw the film went away unsatisfied and angry, and leading chatter in online circles still ridicules the film to this day.
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Thor 5 Director: Who Could Replace Taika Waititi?
In November 2023, Taika Waititi announced his decision not to return as the director for Thor 5. Responsible for both the best Thor film and the worst Thor film, fans breathed a sigh of relief following his announcement. Early reports claim Chris Hemsworth is pushing for Extraction director Sam Hargrave to replace Taika Waititi on Thor 5. The post-credits scene of Love and Thunder saw Zeus dispatch his son Hercules to fight and bring back Thor, but it is too early to say if Hercules will participate in any role or not.
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Thor 5 and MCU Phase 7: Where the Film Fits
Therefore, there is a strong chance of Thor 5 materialising somewhere in Phase 7 of the MCU. Considering Thor remains one of the more popular characters in the MCU, the stars are sure to align for this sequel. Hemsworth wants to do it, Fiege wants to do it, and it is all just a matter of nailing down the right script and the right director to go with it.
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Thor 5: Everything We Know So Far
We will keep you posted as soon as new updates regarding Thor 5 become available. In the meantime, you can next catch Thor in next year’s Avengers: Doomsday.
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