The Marvel Cinematic Universe is preparing for another turning point, and this time, the spotlight is squarely on Thor.
At the close of 2025, Marvel Studios unveiled a Thor-focused teaser for 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, and the footage signaled a meaningful recalibration for the Asgardian Avenger. Gone is the overt comedic framing that defined his most recent solo chapter. In its place: grief, legacy, and the weight of responsibility.
When Thor: Ragnarok debuted in 2017, director Taika Waititi dramatically overhauled the character. The operatic gravitas that characterized Thor (2011) and Thor: The Dark World (2013), helmed by Kenneth Branagh and Alan Taylor, was replaced with neon-drenched spectacle and irreverent humor. The shift echoed the offbeat confidence of 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy and reframed Chris Hemsworth as a comedic force within the MCU.
The gamble paid off. Thor: Ragnarok earned roughly $854 million worldwide, becoming the franchise’s highest-grossing installment at the time. Critics praised its reinvention, and audiences embraced a lighter, looser God of Thunder. The film is widely credited with revitalizing Thor’s solo brand and reinforcing Hemsworth’s standing as one of Marvel’s most charismatic stars.
But by the time Thor: Love and Thunder hit theaters in 2022, the balance had changed again. Financially, the film remained strong with approximately $760 million globally. Creatively, however, responses were more divided.
Many viewers felt the heightened comedy diluted the emotional stakes. The film’s B+ CinemaScore placed it among the lower audience grades in the MCU catalog, and online conversation frequently pointed to tonal exhaustion.
For some fans, the warrior defined by exile, loss, and sacrifice had strayed too far into caricature. That context makes the Avengers: Doomsday teaser feel deliberate.
The footage appears to emphasize Thor’s new role as a father to Love—Gorr the God Butcher’s daughter, portrayed by Christian Bale and played on screen by Hemsworth’s real-life daughter, India Rose Hemsworth. The emotional framing feels closer to Avengers: Infinity War (2018) than to Love and Thunder, a distinction that has not escaped fans’ notice.
Rather than suggesting a send-off, the teaser positions Thor as a central legacy Avenger heading into what looks to be a soft reset for the MCU’s next era.
Speculation about Hemsworth’s departure has circulated for months, particularly as Marvel retools its long-term plans and reintroduces legacy characters amid ongoing Multiverse storylines. Now, the actor himself has addressed the rumors.
During an appearance on the Smartless podcast, Hemsworth was asked whether he was preparing to hang up Mjolnir. His answer was clear: he’ll return “a couple more times” beyond Avengers: Doomsday, spoiling any fear that his character may perish in the upcoming MCU movie.
“We’ve got some ideas to do something pretty unique again,” Hemsworth shared. He also referenced Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige’s outlook on the character’s trajectory. “[Feige] said it’s cool because the audience now expects dramatic turns with the character. And whatever we do next—we’ve got some ideas to do something pretty unique again and hopefully be [different].”
Hemsworth has previously indicated that continuing past the Multiverse Saga would require something “drastically different.” His latest comments suggest Marvel is intent on evolving Thor yet again rather than revisiting familiar territory.
Unlike Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) or Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Thor remains active within the MCU timeline. His status as Love’s guardian also introduces a generational dimension that Marvel has only begun to explore.
For the studio, retaining Hemsworth offers continuity during a period of transition. With several foundational heroes gone, Thor serves as a bridge between the Infinity Saga and whatever comes next. Whether Avengers: Doomsday deepens the character’s emotional complexity or launches him into another reinvention, one thing is clear: the God of Thunder isn’t finished yet.
How do you feel about Thor’s apparent survival in Doomsday and beyond? Let us know in the comments down below!
