We’ve seen a lot of villains come and go in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Killmonger was killed in Black Panther, Rumlow blew up in Captain America: Civil War, and Thanos was decapitated while his younger self dusted away (both happened in Avengers: Endgame). And then there’s Hela, who seemingly died at the end of Thor: Ragnarok. However, do gods truly die? Well, maybe not.
Hela was an extremely well-received villain, with audiences praising Cate Blanchett's performance. The character brought destruction along with her when she rose on Asgard and attempted to become its new queen, but the Goddess of Death seemingly met her match when Thor unleashed Ragnarok on the realm, potentially sending his immortal sister into a fiery grave. That said, her apparent Thor: Ragnarok demise was left open-ended... and there might be a reason why.
Renowned insider Alex Perez recently hosted one of their monthly Q&A with fans ( via The Cosmic Circus), and they were asked “Is there any chance Hela will return in Doomsday or maybe Secret Wars?” Perez responded with a very interesting answer, saying:
“I don’t know how to answer that. I know there’s interest in bringing the character back, but I don’t think it’s for the Avengers movies. Maybe in Thor 5?”
In that answer, there are a few things to unpack. First of all, the answer was vague. Instead of a hopeful yes or a disappointing no, the insider started with an enigmatic “I don’t know.” That could mean that they know more than they’re letting on, but don’t know how to say without directly spoiling something.
Secondly, we have to think about Thor's future in the MCU. After the end-credits scene in Thor: Love and Thunder, the text that appeared on the screen read: “Thor will return.” So far, we know that he will be back in Avengers: Doomsday but will Thor 5 actually happen? Well, a fifth film in the Thor franchise has not yet been officially announced by Marvel Studios, but there have been reports of the studio potentially laying the groundwork for it behind the scenes.
Furthermore, the multiple rumors about a more mythical and serious, less-silly installment to close out the God of Thunder's journey in the MCU has sparked buzz online over the past year. It could light a fire under Marvel Studios to get this going, and maybe with a new writer and director (rumors have suggested that Taika Waititi, who directed the previous two Thor movies, will not return if the film does go ahead).
Lastly, Perez' saying that they "don't think" she will return in Avengers: Doomsday doesn't necessarily rule her out. First of all, it isn’t a no, and Marvel Studios' plans could always change. We've seen an alternate version of Hela in What If...?, so it goes without saying that there are variants of her out there in the multiverse. Could one of them appear in Avengers: Doomsday? If not then, then maybe Avengers: Secret Wars? Marvel is reportedly setting up a major battle to pay tribute to the whole history of Marvel movies, so an appearance from Hela would be welcomed.
Hela could be a critical part of Avengers: Doomsday. She could be the villain at Doctor Doom’s side or someone he kills because they’re in his way. Either way, it wouldn’t shock this writer if she returned in Doomsday or Secret Wars. Even if it’s not planned, things can happen to change that. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to find out.
More from Bam Smack Pow: