Thor: Love and Thunder may not adapt the comics exactly

Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is over, and all eyes are on Marvel to see what it has in store for Phase 4. Among the more interesting offerings is Thor: Love and Thunder. Not only is Natalie Portman (Jane Foster) heading back to the MCU and taking up Thor’s hammer, but Taika Waititi will be returning to direct the film — happy news for anyone who enjoyed his work on Thor: Ragnarok.

But while fans are excited to see how Waititi handles the story of Jane Foster becoming the Mighty Thor, the director has suggested that there might be some differences between the comic source material and his adaptation. Nothing is certain just yet, but that’s precisely Waititi’s point — it seems that he doesn’t want to tie himself to a specific narrative until a bit later down the line.

In particular, Waititi mentioned that he’s uncertain about whethe the physical effects of Jane taking up the hammer will mirror those of the comics. In Jason Aaron’s comics, Jane Foster’s ability to wield Mjolnir comes at a cost to her body. Since she’s mortal, she develops cancer when she begins taking on her new godly form.

“I think that’s a really powerful part of the books,” Waititi said during an interview with Variety. “I think it’s really cool that she’s fighting this thing and there’s two battles going on. Personally, I really love that storyline. Whether it ends up in the film is yet to be seen.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 22: Taika Waititi attends the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” at the Los Angeles Convention Center on April 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Taika Waititi

If you’re wondering why this detail might get cut, Waititi offered a simple explanation: It’s just too soon to definitively decide which direction the film will go. After all, Thor: Love and Thunder doesn’t come out until the end of 2021 — meaning the movie hasn’t even entered production yet. That leaves a lot open, and it’s probably best not to get fans excited about a direct adaptation only to deviate from the source material later on.

“We’re not sure if we’re going to do a complete lift of that whole storyline,” Waititi explained. “These things change through the shoot and even when we’re editing sometimes. Like, ‘Let’s get rid of that storyline where she’s got breast cancer. We’ll change it to something else, or maybe she’s fine.'”

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So, it’s possible we’ll still see Jane struggle with cancer, or maybe Waititi will depict the consequences of her taking up the mantle of Thor in a different way. Fans will have to wait to find out. Filming for the fourth Thor movie will reportedly begin next year, with it scheduled to hit theaters on November 5, 2021.

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