When you think of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's hard not to think about the original team of Avengers who united on the screen in 2012. Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and the Incredible Hulk assembled to stop the Chituari invasion brought upon by Loki, culminating a series of events built up to in separate movies while also setting the stage for bigger adventures to come. As far as first phases go, the MCU excelled on the assignment.
Those actors have become synonymous with their characters over the years, with many understandably associating Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlet Johansson, and Mark Ruffalo with those iconic roles - so much so that it's hard to imagine anyone else ever playing them.
That's one of the reasons why it was so shocking to learn that Marvel Studios recast one of them for an upcoming project.
Marvel recasts Chris Hemsworth's Thor in Marvel Zombies
For the first time in Marvel Studios history, Chris Hemsworth is not playing Thor in an MCU project. The recently-released Marvel Zombies does indeed feature the God of Thunder, but he isn't played by Hemsworth, with Greg Furman voicing the character instead.
Normally, one of the MCU's major stars not voicing their character in an animated spinoff isn't unheard, but Hemsworth is one of the few Avengers stars who did return to bring Thor to life in Marvel's What If...?. As Marvel Zombies is a spinoff of What If...?, that makes this an official recast as fans would understandably have been expecting the star to reprise his role here.
Although Thor wasn't one of the main characters in the Disney Plus series, he did have a pretty significant role in the last two episodes, appearing in scenes that really showcased what a force to be reckoned with that he is. And honestly, it made for some of the best sequences of the whole series.
Marvel Zombies has received generally positive feedback from fans, many of whom thought it was a worthy adaptation of the Robert Kirkman graphic novel upon which it was based, and worth the lengthy wait for its arrival.
Chris Hemsworth will be back as Thor in the MCU's live-action projects
The good news is that Hemsworth will return to the role of Thor in the upcoming live-action movie Avengers: Doomsday in 2026, along with its 2027 sequel Avengers: Secret Wars. The double-header is expected to act as a conclusion to the Multiverse Saga, with a host of MCU and Marvel returnees already confirmed for the first installment via a five-hour livestream. It was during this announcement that Marvel confirmed Hemsworth's return as Thor.
The God of Thunder has been a major part of the MCU since its inception. He first appeared in his self-titled film in 2011 before joining up with the rest of Earth's Mightiest Heroes in 2012's The Avengers. Hemsworth would go on the play the role again many times, appearing in the other three Avengers movies (plus the upcoming two), as well as three more Thor movies.
The fourth installment in his solo franchise, Thor: Love and Thunder, may have been a divisive one, but it did make it clear that there was more story to tell for his character - particularly as a post-credits scene seemingly set up a fifth installment.
Thor 5 has been rumored for some time now, with Hemsworth himself even saying that he feels he owes the fans one more to go out on a much higher note after the response to Love and Thunder. There has been a lot of speculation about how much longer Thor will be around in the MCU franchise, particularly after a recent post from the actor regarding his upcoming Avengers: Doomsday return read a bit like a farewell to the character. But, for the time being at least, we're getting plenty of lightning from one of the few standing OG Avengers, with a confirmed appearance in Doomsday, a likely return in Secret Wars, and a rumored fifth Thor movie.
We don't know how much longer the MCU will keep the God of Thunder around now that he's one of the few remaining original characters within the franchise. For that reason alone, we're savoring every appearance that he makes.
Marvel Zombies is now streaming on Disney Plus. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.