Lightning strikes twice with new Thor
Australia’s place as the centre of the film universe has again been reinforced with the imminent release of the latest Marvel film.
Australia’s place as the centre of the film universe has again been reinforced with the imminent release of the latest film in the blockbuster Thor movie franchise and Marvel Cinematic Universe. When Thor: Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi and starring Chris Hemsworth, debuts across the country on July 6, it is set to join Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis near the top of the global box office. Both movies were filmed on Australian soil – Elvis on the Gold Coast and Thor: Love and Thunder in Sydney – using local film industry talent.
“There’s such an abundance of talent,” Hemsworth said of working in Sydney. “Everyone has to leave normally to go to Hollywood and get a job, and now there are so many talented individuals here.”
“The crews here are incredible,” Waititi added.
Starring Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Christian Bale, the follow-up to 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok – which was also made in Australia – Love and Thunder takes the cosmic, comedic banter that catapulted Thor to the top of the MCU and completely doubles down – even though Waititi was uncertain he could live up to the success of Ragnarok.
“It was difficult, I had a concern that I wouldn’t be able to match that or do better than that because we put everything into that,” Waititi said.
Hemsworth added: “We kind of had nothing to lose with Ragnarok.”
Picking up where Avengers: Endgame left off, Love and Thunder sees Thor back in shape travelling the world with the Guardians of the Galaxy kicking ass, in a heavily ’80s rock and roll get-up and backed by a slew of Guns N’ Roses songs. It’s bigger, more quirky and just as much fun.
This time, the villain on the verge of universal destruction is a treat. Played by Bale, the deranged Gorr’s premise is relatable.
“Gorr is one of the most interesting characters in the Marvel comics because he’s a sympathetic character,” Waititi said. “You don’t agree with why he’s doing what he’s doing, but you do understand where the anger comes from.”
Following the film’s global premiere in LA, the stars of the movie reunited on the red carpet at Fox Studios in Sydney for the second stop on their Australian tour after the Perth premiere on Friday. A beaming Hemsworth was in attendance alongside his director.
Waititi said securing someone of Bale’s quality was also a coup, but mentioned he couldn’t have done it without Bale’s children.
“It’s hard for his kids to watch a lot of his work because it’s very serious, and his family had watched Ragnarok a bunch of times and they were the ones who said to him ‘You’re doing the movie’,” Waititi said. “I didn’t really convince him.”
Thor’s character arc has been one of the most interesting in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and much of the impetus for his many changes have come from his relationship and break-up with Dr Jane Foster.
Now, she is back and this time with a twist.
As seen in the trailer for Love and Thunder, fans of Portman’s character will be delighted, as she is now worthy of wielding the mighty hammer Mjolnir and has taken up the mantle of Mighty Thor – a spanner in the works for her relationship with Thor.
“I love Natalie,” Hemsworth said. “I started this journey with her 10, 11 years ago and now to reunite but this time with her as the Mighty Thor was so much fun.”
Thor: Love and Thunder is out in cinemas on July 6