Thor as an IP has brilliant mythology that is yet to be adapted into live action. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has adapted seminal villains like Gorr the God Butcher, Malekith the Accursed and of course, Loki. However, it has yet to introduce (and expand on) some of Thor’s closest allies in Marvel Comics, ones who are not part of the Avengers, but are integral to Thor’s standalone stories.
One such character is Jaimie Alexander’s Lady Sif, who has appeared in three out of the four Thor movies in supporting roles, and has also appeared in Loki for a brief cameo, along with ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Lady Sif remains one of the only surviving members of Thor’s original circle of friends, and as of Thor: Love and Thunder, she resides in New Asgard, training the next generation of warriors. The actress, right before Love and Thunder hit theatres, made an interesting post on Instagram, one that had the fans of Alexander and Thor excited about what the MCU might have in store for the character.
Jaimie Alexander Wants a Fan-Favourite Thor Character in the MCU
Just a few days before Thor: Love and Thunder was released, Jaimie Alexander took to Instagram to ask her fans what they would like to see from a Lady Sif spin-off series. She then went on to mention what her preferences for such a show could be, and fans couldn’t agree more. The caption to her post read:
“If Lady Sif had a series, what would YOU like to see? I’m loving some #BetaRayBill 🔥 What do you think @walter.simonson.5 ??😉 #skuttlebutt#surtur#korbinite#thor#sif ⚔️🛡”
The caption tagged Walt Simonson, the comics artist who created the character of Beta Ray Bill, whom Alexander would love to see in a series with Lady Sif. Beta Ray Bill is a fan-favorite character who was introduced in The Mighty Thor #337, way back in 1983. The character remains one of the most beloved figures in the Thor mythos, appearing in numerous media outside of comic books, like the Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes animated series.
Every incarnation of Beta Ray Bill has always had a special relationship with Lady Sif. Sif has received two series of her own, a single issue run in 2010, titled Sif, and then again in 2012, closing out Journey Into Mystery from #646 to #655. Both these runs featured Beta Ray Bill in a principal role. Alternatively, Beta Ray Bill’s involvement in Thor’s neck of the universe often brings him face to face with Sif, who took a liking to the character way back when he was introduced in Issue #337 in The Mighty Thor.
After helping Bill fend off the minions of Surtur, Sif and Bill end up departing Asgard together. However, in the later years, this relationship becomes more complicated. The two are often depicted as being in a romantic relationship but are also shown to be amicable exes. However, if the character is to be introduced in the MCU, specifically to have a relationship with Sif, some important groundwork will need to be laid down to bring him into the franchise.
Beta Ray Bill will have to make his debut in a Thor movie
Beta Ray Bill first appeared as a foe for Thor. He battled the Prince of Asgard to a standstill. However, what set him apart at the time from other Thor characters was the fact that Bill was worthy to lift Mjolnir. At this point in the history of Thor comics, no character outside of Odin and Thor was able to wield the hammer. Bill’s worthiness not only won him Thor’s friendship, but Odin himself commissioned another hammer for Bill: Stormbreaker.
There are two principal foes in the comics that Beta Ray Bill finds himself facing over and over again: Surtur, the fire giant that destroyed Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok, and Galactus, the devourer of worlds, whom Bill starved in the comic series Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter. Given that it is yet to be confirmed whether Surtur is truly dead, the MCU could adapt this story to introduce Bill, before his adventures could head over to a Disney+ series starring Lady Sif.
As for the show about Sif herself, there is plenty of material involving Sif and Bill that could get Jaimie Alexander exactly what she has wished for. There is also the fact that Kevin Feige himself has talked about Sif’s fate in the MCU, leaving plenty of room to explore what the character was doing after her banishment from Asgard by Loki, masquerading as Odin. In fact, this could introduce Beta Ray Bill without the need for a Thor film, but could cause a lot of friction among fans, given how beloved the character is, and how much he deserves to make his debut in a feature film.
A Lady Sif series would have plenty of material to work with
If a Lady Sif series were to premiere on Disney+, the MCU has enough gaps in its narrative that could snugly fit a miniseries based around Sif. Further, there are a slew of comics to pull from for Sif, be it classic titles of The Mighty Thor, or the relatively recent stories that came out of Journey Into Mystery. In particular, issues #646 to #655 of Journey Into Mystery (2010) offer a perfect template for a Lady Sif series set in the MCU.
Of course, a number of changes will need to be made to adapt the story into the MCU, but it would guarantee a lot of screentime to Sif and Beta Ray Bill, who could develop and explore their relationship through the series.
Further, there are standalone Beta Ray Bill titles that could serve as the inspiration for the drama and action of a Lady Sif show, if it were to happen. Daniel Warren Johnson’s Beta Ray Bill miniseries from 2021 explores Bill embarking on a quest to regain the magic that restores his mortal form after being embarrassed by Sif when the duo was sharing an intimate moment. Even Journey Into Mystery Issue #655 has the character making a comment on Bill’s appearance, despite their past tryst together.
It would be totally possible to adapt Beta Ray Bill and Journey Into Mystery into a single miniseries, one that could do justice to the characters of Lady Sif and Beta Ray Bill, after both of them have been introduced in Thor 5.
