Marvel fans were thrilled to see Natalie Portman return to the big screen as Jane Foster in Thor: Love and Thunder. Portman, who first took on the role alongside Chris Hemsworth in 2011’s Thor, brought the character to life again in Thor: The Dark World, Avengers: Endgame, and most recently, Love and Thunder. In a recent interview with Total Film, Portman discussed her experience filming Love and Thunder and hinted at a possible MCU comeback.
Natalie Portman Open to Returning to the MCU Despite Jane Foster’s Fate
Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). Image Credit: Marvel Studios
Natalie Portman, who has been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the first Thor movie, has expressed interest in reprising her role as Jane Foster.
In a recent interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar), Portman expressed her willingness to reprise her role as Jane Foster. As Thor’s love interest, Portman appeared in three of the four Thor films, leaving after the lukewarm reception of Thor: The Dark World in 2013. Although she did not take part in the well-received Thor: Ragnarok, she returned with a surprising twist in Thor: Love and Thunder.
When asked about returning to the MCU, Portman conveyed her openness to the idea, despite her character’s death in the latest Thor installment.
“Oh, I have no idea,” Portman stated. “I mean, no one’s asked me to. So I don’t know. But sure, that was super-fun.” She reflected on the enjoyable experience of making the movie, praising co-star Chris Hemsworth and director Taika Waititi. While Thor: Love and Thunder might not have achieved the same success as Ragnarok, there are potential storylines for Jane Foster in Thor 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars.
She elaborated on her experience: “Yeah, it was so fun. I had such a great time making it,” Portman said. “I loved working with Taika [Waititi], and Chris [Hemsworth] is just the greatest, and so is Tessa [Thompson]. I was just laughing all day, every day. There’s only my highest love for that experience – and not to mention Australia, which is just the most glorious country.”
While Thor: Love and Thunder didn’t receive the same critical acclaim as its predecessor, Thor: Ragnarok with a 63% critic score and 73% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Portman still had a positive experience filming.
Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster’s MCU Future
Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). Image Credit: Marvel Studios
Although Thor: Love & Thunder provided Jane Foster with a fitting conclusion, Natalie Portman’s return to the MCU could still be possible without compromising her legacy. One approach would involve resurrecting the Jane audiences have known since 2011. However, the MCU often adheres to its character deaths, making this scenario less likely.
With the infinite universes available to explore, Natalie Portman could reappear in the MCU as a different iteration of Jane Foster, offering a completely new backstory. One potential storyline could involve a Jane variant who has lost her Thor in her universe, adding an emotional layer if she ever encounters Earth-616’s Thor.
Marvel Studios’ plans for Jane remain unclear. While Portman expressed openness to returning, she hasn’t been approached since her recent appearance. The future of the Thor franchise appears optimistic, with Thor’s expected return in a future project. Details regarding a potential Thor 5, however, remain under wraps, with no title, director, or plot details confirmed. Nevertheless, Portman’s enthusiasm for a potential reprisal leaves room for Thor and Jane Foster’s story to continue.
Thor: Love and Thunder is available to stream on Disney+.
