On the surface THOR: RAGNAROK looks like a deliriously fun adventure flick that pays no mind to the other films in the MCU. Like SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING it simply wants to be the best movie possible for its leading character. Though THOR may not have a ton to do with all the Infinity Stone business, the movie’s producer did say by the end of the flick the movie will actually have larger repercussions than we thought. And, thankfully, that doesn’t mean Thor’s hair won’t grow back.
While speaking with reporters during a set visit, producer Brad Winderbaum spoke about how the movie will have effects on the greater MCU in the same way the ending of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER did, wherein Cap (Chris Evans) and the gang took down S.H.I.E.L.D.:
Well just as in Winter Soldier, we kind of broke down some of the real fundamental ideas about the MCU that you took for granted, specifically S.H.I.E.L.D. I think that also in Phase One, we established this cosmology that involved Asgard and Odin and certain ideas of things that you just thought were eternal and could never change. And what this film does is it breaks them down in a very similar way that Winter Soldier broke down S.H.I.E.L.D.
Taking down the only lifeline the heroes of the MCU had in WINTER SOLIDER was a massive, bold move for the series, and forced them to come together like never before. Since then Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has used his resources to create an Avengers hub, but we all saw in CIVIL WAR not everyone is down to be a part of the unit. Perhaps RAGNAROK will end with the destruction of Asgard, with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) losing that link back home and making Earth a priority for the God of Thunder.
The potential is fascinating, and I was already pumped to see RAGNAROK simply for the humor and action, but now that there’s the possibility of such a massive shift I can’t wait to see how it plays out. Hela (Cate Blanchett) looks like a tremendous threat, and maybe Thor and the gang won’t be able to completely stop her. What will happen? I don’t know! Tune into the next episode to THOR to find out.
That next episode airs November 3.