The Marvel Cinematic Universe is evolving. If we're being truthful, it's always been evolving, growing beyond its initial plans and expanding into the biggest franchise in Hollywood history. However, it has been in a much bigger state of flux since 2019's Avengers: Endgame closed out the Infinity Saga storyline that had been running for 11 years. It made way for the Multiverse Saga, which kicked off a brand new era for the MCU full of Disney Plus shows, unlikely crossovers, and a lot more uncertainty for the Marvel brand.
There have been a lot of highs and lows throughout this new era, but there have been plenty of familiar faces from the MCU's past, present (and even future) to steer the ship into the right direction. And with the newest chapter preparing to wrap up via Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, hopes are high for the next one - which will spotlight the X-Men as the MCU prepares to introduce audiences to Marvel's Mightiest Mutants.
All that being said, there is one sequel that was expected to be a part of that - one which would have starred one of those familiar faces we mentioned above. But this more recent update suggests that it isn't set in stone after all.
Chris Hemsworth doesn't know if Thor 5 is happening
Chris Hemsworth isn't sure about Thor's future beyond Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Speaking to the BBC recently, the Marvel veteran was asked about the potential of a fifth Thor movie and he opened with "I don't know", saying:
"I don’t know. We’ll see where this one goes. We are unpacking that as we speak, and figuring out where each of these characters goes."
Hemsworth is set to reprise his role as the God of Thunder in Avengers: Doomsday and he was the first cast member officially confirmed to appear in the movie during that internet-breaking five-hour livestream in which Marvel Studios announced the full cast of the movie (or at least the full list of actors they wanted to confirm). However, it has long been speculated that he would also reprise his role in Thor 5.
Although Marvel hasn't officially announced a fifth Thor movie, there have been reports that it was in development since the fourth installment came out. Speaking of that one, Thor: Love and Thunder featured a post-credits scene which teased Hercules' mission to destroy the Avenger after he almost killed Zeus. That story arc won't be a part of Doomsday so it's more than likely that it was setting up a fifth film in the Thor franchise. And considering that Love and Thunder was a resounding success at the box office, there's no reason to think Marvel wasn't keen to make another one.
In fact, a number of reports have claimed that Thor 5 is in development and that it will act as a triumphant send-off to the God of Thunder. After the negative response to the in-your-face, over-the-top nature in the previous installment, it was reported that Taika Waititi would not be back to direct the fifth outing in the franchise. That would, of course, suggest that there is a fifth installment to direct.
Rumor has it that Thor 5 was set to be a more mythical, war-like epic tale of triumph much like the first Thor movie. Hemsworth himself has previously commented about his desire to make another one as he felt that he owed the fans after Love and Thunder didn't go down at all like they had hoped. But his response here has fans concerned about his future in the role.
In recent months, a number of rumors have claimed that Marvel is working on crafting a send-off to Thor in the two upcoming Avengers movies instead of in his own fifth standalone offering. A recent post from Hemsworth on social media also read somewhat like a goodbye to the role, with the actor subsequently having to clarify that he was simply acknowledging that he and Thor are moving into a new chapter together. However, fans have pointed out that the rest of his comments in his BBC interview about Avengers: Doomsday sound a bit like a farewell too:
"I’m just thankful for being involved with this one at Marvel, back together with a lot of the old cast, and then the new cast. It’s something I certainly love. We’ll see what happens."
The "We'll see what happens" part of that sentiment does offer up some hope that Thor 5 is still on the horizon. The most likely element of this entire interview is that Hemsworth was simply choosing to look at his current MCU role in the Avengers movies rather than looking beyond the end of the Multiverse Saga, so it goes without saying that there is still a strong possibility for his return in the Mutants Era for a fith - and potentially final - installment of his own franchise.
Thor deserves to go out in his own triumphant glory just like those Thor 5 rumors promised. Here's hoping that we all get the chance to see that film come to life in the not-too-distant future.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.