Summary
- Thor franchise is worth $2.2 billion but Thor 5 needs changes after Thor: Love and Thunder's dip.
- Hemsworth admits Thor's comedy went too far; it's time for a darker story to save the franchise.
- A serious Thor movie could revitalize the character and generate renewed interest, extending Marvel's use of the character.
The Thor franchise has proven popular within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the previous four movies grossing over $2.2 billion worldwide. With Chris Hemsworth in the lead role, it has been a significant success for Marvel Studios, which is why it's no surprise that a fifth movie is reportedly being worked on.
Thor: Love and Thunder did see a drop in box office returns, though, and the movie was also met with fairly negative reviews. That is why a potential Thor 5 needs to make some drastic changes, and altering the tone of the film would be an ideal way to achieve that.
Marvel Must Avoid Making The Same Mistake With Thor That They Made Wth Iron Man
Marvel Studios needs to be careful not to repeat a mistake made with Iron Man when writing for Thor.
The Thor Franchise Has Become Too Comedic
Chris Hemsworth Has Been Open About Thor: Love And Thunder
From the moment Thor first appeared on the big screen, comedy has been involved in his character. Whether in his standalone movies or in his Avengers appearances, that has allowed him to feel unique and enjoyable to watch. Hemsworth found an outstanding balance between humor and seriousness for most of the franchise, but that has started to lean too far into the world of comedy in recent roles. Whether it's the decision to present Thor as overweight and out of shape for some cheap laughs or the entirety of Thor: Love and Thunder, the character has been tough to see in a serious light. While every Marvel movie has some comedy, the most recent Thor standalone film went too far, to the point where audiences found it hard to connect with the movie or the lead character.
Hemsworth himself has admitted he "became a parody" of himself, and that's certainly how it felt. While he's a character with a dry sense of humor and someone full of self-confidence, that doesn't mean he should be doing everything in his power to make others laugh. Fans want to be able to take Thor seriously, especially considering he's one of the most powerful heroes in the entire franchise. Therefore, seeing him work in movies that were almost comedies restricts him and the role that he could play.
Thor 5 Should Be A Much Darker Story
It Would Allow Thor To Be Shown In A Different Light
Thor 5 allows Marvel Studios to right the previous standalone movie's wrongs, which disappointed many people. The way that should happen is by making it a much darker story that would provide a serious threat in terms of the villain. This is something that hasn't truly happened within the Thor franchise, as even the most serious movies within that environment have brought a level of comedy. Instead, Marvel should look to provide a totally different story, perhaps more in line with Logan, which took Wolverine to a different level. A film like that hasn't been attempted by Marvel yet, but if they were to do it with any character, Thor would likely be the ideal candidate, given how long he's been involved in the story and the fact that the character needs to genuinely be refreshed.
The fact that Hemsworth has admitted he started to get frustrated playing Thor during his last standalone movie proves that there needs to be a change. If the actor himself is starting to become tired of the role, then it's no surprise that the audience is feeling burned out, too. Putting him into a much more serious, darker movie would rejuvenate Hemsworth as an actor, which could bring his greatest-ever performance in the MCU. It would allow him to access a different range of emotions that he hasn't shown before when portraying Thor, which could freshen things up for him as well.
A Change Might Be Enough To Save The Thor Franchise
Marvel Would Be Able To Keep Using It For Years To Come
While the Thor franchise has never been in real danger, there currently isn't an audience crying out for a fifth movie. That's because it has felt like Marvel has taken the character as far as possible in terms of his individual story. He is already confirmed to be part of Avengers: Doomsday, and it's believed he will appear in Avengers: Secret Wars straight after, so Marvel is evidently not done with him yet. There had been claims that Marvel was preparing to give Thor a worthy sendoff in those movies, but if a fifth installment in his standalone franchise is coming, then that's not likely to happen. However, Thor 5 could tell that story, ending Hesworth's time in the role, which some fans will want if it feels too similar. On the other hand, if Marvel opts to take a drastic turn with Thor as a character and it pays off, then it has the potential to inject new life into the franchise. Thor 5 might be able to save the character, ensuring that people have an interest in seeing a new version of him moving forward.
