Natalie Portman who is popularly known for her role in playing Jane Foster in MCU’s Thor is coming back with upgrading her character in Phase 4 of the MCU and returning as the Mighty Thor in the upcoming Chris Hemsworth-led Thor: Love and Thunder.
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Portman was introduced as an astrophysicist in 2011’s Thor who encounters the God of Thunder while investigating New Mexico with her team and later appears in Thor: The Dark World as the love interest of the Asgardian Prince. She was last seen in the second sequel of Thor where her character gets infected with Aether, the liquified form of the Reality Stone which sets the whole plot of Thor 2 and ends on a good note. Though the reality was quite different.
Why Natalie Portman Disappeared From The MCU
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Portman’s sudden disappearance from the MCU has direct links with director Patty Jenkins who was supposed to helm Thor’s sequel.
Up until Thor 3, Portman led Thor films as a female lead but In 2016, when she was asked about her future with the MCU, she shared that her role as Jane Foster is “done” as far as she knew. Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige clarified her absence being the movie primarily takes place in the cosmos where Tessa Thompson appeared as a new female lead, Valkyrie. Though the truth was something else. Portman’s removal from the Thor 3 was linked with Thor 2.
Before Alan Taylor helming Thor 2, Patty Jenkins was supposed to direct the movie but she was fired due to creative differences and Taylor went into the scene. However, this made Portman furious as it was reported that the actress only agreed to the sequel because of Jenkins’ involvement.
Natalie Portman Urged Marvel To Hire Patty Jenkins
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Patty Jenkins would have been the first woman back in 2013 to direct a superhero tentpole though that didn’t happen. Portman strongly urged Marvel to hire Jenkins who has directed Monster (2003) which gave Charlize Theron her Oscar in Jenkins’ directorial debut. Natalie Portman has always been an advocate for giving women bigger opportunities on both sides of the camera which links to Jenkins’ entry into the MCU though the results were not up to the mark.
The actress in 2020 was criticized for her hypocritical nature, as she wore a black Dior cape with the last names of women directors snubbed by the Academy Awards embroidered on it. This act of hers was criticized as it was shared that the actress herself worked with very few female directors. Though she responded to it by sharing that she has tried to work with more women filmmakers in her career and will continue to do so in the future while noting that her work starred in short films, music videos, and commercials has resulted in collaborations with the female directors.
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Though, In Thor 4, Natalie Portman is returning as Mighty Thor which means that her character Jane will no longer be just a love interest as her character now have a greater charisma which will be seen alongside Chris Hemsworth’s Thor.
Thor: Love and Thunder will be released in theatres on July 8.
