Spoilers ahead for Marvel’sImmortal Thorfinale!
Marvel’sThoris about to embark on an exciting new era in the comics, and the upcomingMortal Thorseries actually presents the perfect opportunity for anotherMCU movie starring Chris Hemsworth’s take on the God of Thunder. Considering how Hemsworth has become the comedic heart of Marvel movies, making his Thor human might be the next best creative move.
For better or worse, among the first questions that come to mind when something major happens in Marvel Comics these days is “how might it affect the MCU?”
In this case,the concept for Al Ewing’sMortal Thorseries seems tailor-made for a cinematic adaptation, even if a movie version might take the premise in a very different directionthan the comic.
Thor’s Next Comic Story Arc Is Just Starting, And It’s Already Perfect For Chris Hemsworth
The Mortal Thor#1, Written By Al Ewing; Art By Pasqual Ferry; Available June 23, 2025 From Marvel Comics
In August, Marvel’s ongoingThorcomic relaunches asThe Mortal Thor, following up on the twenty-five issue run ofImmortal Thor. The premise of the series finds Thor reborn on Earth as an ordinary mortal, in a version of the Marvel Universe where he, and all of Asgard,have been written out of continuity.
In response to the underwhelming box office performance and mixed critical reception ofThor: Love and Thunder, there has been a lot of uncertainty aboutThor’s future in the MCU, especially when it comes to his standalone films. Now,The Mortal Thorcould provide the key to the character’s next film storyline.
To be clear,The Mortal Thoris not out yet, and so what author Al Ewing does with the series is a wide-open question for Marvel readers. However, the premise should immediately grab Marvel Studios’ attention, becauseit offers the opportunity to do a wildly different kind of Marvel Cinematic Universe film: a “fish out of water” comedy.
The MCU’s Thor Might Be Better Off With A Terrestrial Adventure Than A Sweeping Cosmic Odyssey
The Immortal Thor#25, Written By Al Ewing; Art By Jan Bazaldua; Available Now From Marvel Comics
Al Ewing’sImmortal Thorwas an extended meditation on storytelling,using Marvel’sThorloreto make a point about the power of narrative. It remains to be determined howThe Mortal Thor, whichEwing describes as “Act Two”of his ambitious plan for the God of Thunder, will further that theme.
Still, it seems immediately clear that cutting to “Act Two,” andadaptingThe Mortal Thor’spremise, might be the best way to transpose his take on the character to the big screen.There are several reasons for this, starting with budget, but also taking into consideration the tone of the MCU’sThorfilms up to this point.
Immortal Thoris sweeping mythological Marvel storytellingat its best, weaving a highly ambitious tale involving the “Elder Gods,” who preceded the Asgardians at the start of the universe. While this would make a thrilling action-adventure movie, it would be an expensive one, and it would risk succumbing to the tonal issues that weighed down the first twoThorfilms, notablyThe Dark World.
That is, Marvel’s potentially counterintuitive decision to take theThorfranchise in a more lighthearted direction paid off withThor: Ragnarok, and whileLove and Thundermight have gone too far in the comedic direction, that doesn’t mean Marvel shouldn’t attempt to get the formula right. A cinematic take onThe Mortal Thor’spremise could make for a bold attempt.
Chris Hemsworth Would Thrive As A Human Thor Seeking To Regain His Powers
The Potential For A New Kind Of MCU Adventure
At the end ofImmortal Thor#24, Thor was killed by Loki; the finale of the series sends Thor on a journey into the afterlife, where he battles his original human alter-ego, Donald Blake, before being resurrected on Earth as a mortal, in the form of another one of his secret identities, “Sigurd Jarlson.”
While earlier MCU properties, most notablyWandavision, have tested the genre-limits of the film franchise, a comedic take onThe Mortal Thorcould offer the most substantial opportunity yet.
Though readers can anticipate a fair share twists and turns, the expectation is thatThe Mortal Thorwill, in some way, find the formerGod of Thunder seeking to restore his statusin the Marvel Universe. Though author Al Ewing will imbue this storyline with emotional and philosophical gravity,its comedic potential as a Chris Hemsworth vehicle is also immediately obvious.
As “Sigurd Jarlson,” an Earth-bound version of Hemsworth’s Thor could have madcap adventures as he seeks to become a god once more, and get his friends back. This would play into Hemsworth’s creative strengths, and his established vibe of the character, while easing the pressure for the character to deliver superhero spectacle.
What makes the prospect most exciting, though, is that it would push the MCU beyond the confines of just superhero action fare. While earlier MCU properties, most notablyWandavision, have tested the genre-limits of the film franchise, a comedic take onThe Mortal Thorcould offer the most substantial opportunity yet.
The MCU Is At A Crossroads With The Thor Franchise; Making Thor Mortal Is A Risk They Should Take
WhyThorShould Go In An Unexpected Direction
Turning Thor human in the MCU wouldn’t necessarily mean taking action out of the equation, but it would acknowledge that previousThorfilms faltered when it came to big fantasy-action setpieces, and account for that. Further, Chris Hemsworth has prior experience in action-comedy that he could bring to the table.
Most Marvel fans agree thatThorneeds a new direction in the Marvel Cinematic Universe…and it might turn out that the comics just offered up a great concept for the movie.
There is of course, the alternative to another comedic take onThor, which is to go the other way, and tell a weightier story more in the vein ofImmortal Thor, as mentioned. Yet MCU fans have an existing vested interest in thelighthearted version of Thorthat the films have cultivated over the years that filmmakers must account for.
Effectively, that makes a return to serious ground as risky a move as taking superpowers out of the picture. In either case, most Marvel fans agree thatThorneeds a new direction in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, if he does come back for a fifth solo film, and it might turn out that the comics just offered up a great concept for the movie.
