Taika Waititi talks possibility of Thor 4 using cancer story for Jane Foster

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

The house was effectively brought down at San Diego Comic-Con this year when Marvel revealed that a fourth THOR movie was on the way – THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER – and that it would involve Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster taking on the mantle of Thor. Foster took over the power of the hammer Mjolnir in the Marvel comics, a storyline that also finds Foster fighting a battle with breast cancer. Fans have been curious if the movie will embrace the storyline, and director Taika Waititi addressed the matter while keeping in mind Marvel snipers likely have their eyes on him.

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“We’re not sure if we’re going to do a complete lift of that whole storyline,” Waititi said while speaking with Variety in promotion for his new movie, JOJO RABBIT. “These things change through the shoot and even when we’re editing sometimes,” he said. “Like, ‘Let’s get rid of that storyline where she’s got breast cancer. We’ll change it to something else, or maybe she’s fine.'”

In the run of comics from writer Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman, Foster comes to wield Mjolnir after the original Thor (currently played by Chris Hemsworth in the Marvel movies) becomes unworthy to do so, going into exile under the name Odinson. In her human form, she is fighting cancer but becomes mighty and powerful while gripping the hammer, even though using the hammer worsens the cancer in her body.

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“I think that’s a really powerful part of the books. I think it’s really cool that she’s fighting this thing and there’s two battles going on. Personally I really love that storyline,” he continued. “But whether it ends up in the film is yet to be seen.”

Last we saw Thor he was heading out on an adventure with the Guardians of the Galaxy at the end of AVENGERS: ENDGAME, and LOVE AND THUNDER is set to come out two years from now in November 2021 (prior to GUARDIANS 3). It's been even longer since we've seen Foster, with Portman's character all but considered gone from the movies for good after 2013's THOR: THE DARK WORLD. There is probably a more solid story in place for the two coming back together than what Waititi is hinting at here, but true, a lot can happen between now and when everything is going into production. 

Taking into account the road Waititi and the gang took things down in THOR: RAGNAROK I don't think the cancer story will be a factor in LOVE AND THUNDER. While the writer/director is no stranger to heartfelt stories the cancer angle may be a bit too heavy for what seems like will be another colorful adventure, one which will also bring back Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie. But, of course, we will know more even a year from now, so anything is possible at this point. 

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER is in theaters November 5, 2021.