Credit: Marvel StudiosThe fate of the beloved God of Thunder has been confirmed by Chris Hemsworth himself.
At the end of 2025, Marvel Studios unveiled a Thor-centric teaser for 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, signaling a dramatic shift for the God of Thunder. Instead of leaning into the self-aware humor that defined his most recent outings, the footage centers on grief, legacy, and responsibility.
When Thor: Ragnarok stormed into theaters in 2017, it reinvented the character almost overnight. Under Waititi’s direction, Chris Hemsworth shed the Shakespearean formality that defined Thor in Thor (2011) and Thor: The Dark World (2013), both directed by Kenneth Branagh and Alan Taylor, respectively. In its place came vibrant production design, irreverent humor, and a tonal energy reminiscent of 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
Thor: Ragnarok grossed approximately $854 million worldwide, becoming the highest-earning Thor installment at the time. Critics applauded its bold reinvention, while audiences embraced a looser, more comedic take on the Asgardian hero. The film is frequently credited with revitalizing the solo Thor franchise and reestablishing Hemsworth as one of the MCU’s most magnetic leading men.
By the time Thor: Love and Thunder arrived in 2022, Marvel leaned even further into that comedic identity. Financially, the film remained a success, earning around $760 million globally. Yet audience reaction was far more divided.
Many critics and fans argued that the humor overwhelmed the emotional core, undercutting dramatic beats that might have landed more powerfully. The film’s B+ CinemaScore marked one of the lower audience grades within the MCU catalog, and online discourse frequently cited tonal fatigue as a growing concern.
For some viewers, Thor’s arc had drifted too far from the tragic Shakespearean warrior introduced in earlier films. The character once defined by loss, exile, and sacrifice seemed, in their view, reduced to comic exaggeration. That’s what makes the recent Avengers: Doomsday teaser feel consequential.
It also appears to acknowledge Thor’s role as a father to Love—Gorr the God Butcher’s daughter, played by Christian Bale and portrayed on screen by Hemsworth’s real-life daughter, India Rose Hemsworth. The emotional framing aligns more closely with Avengers: Infinity War (2018) than with Love and Thunder, a distinction that has not gone unnoticed among fans.
Against that backdrop, seeing Hemsworth return in Avengers: Doomsday—portrayed with renewed seriousness—feels like a statement. Rather than signaling a transition away from the actor, the teaser reinforces Thor’s continued importance as a legacy Avenger heading into the franchise’s next major chapter–a chapter that looks set to reset the MCU.
Chris Hemsworth Confirms Thor’s Fate in the MCU
After months of speculation about whether the longtime Marvel Cinematic Universe star was nearing the end of his run, Hemsworth has confirmed he’ll be sticking around beyond Avengers: Doomsday. The actor is already set to appear in Marvel’s upcoming 2026 Avengers epic. But now, it sounds like that won’t be the end of the road.
Many fans have started wondering if Marvel Studios might be preparing a farewell for one of its original Avengers. Between shifting saga plans, legacy character returns, and ongoing Multiverse chaos, the idea didn’t seem impossible.
During a recent appearance on the Smartless podcast, the Thor star addressed what comes next. When asked whether he was ready to retire his super-powered alter ego, Hemsworth revealed he’ll be back “a couple more times” after Avengers: Doomsday.
“We’ve got some ideas to do something pretty unique again,” Hemsworth shared. He also pointed to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige’s perspective on where the character stands today. “[Feige] said it’s cool because the audience now expects dramatic turns with the character. And whatever we do next—we’ve got some ideas to do something pretty unique again and hopefully be [different].”
Adding fuel to the uncertainty, Hemsworth himself has previously been cautious when discussing his future in the role. The actor has said that returning beyond the Multiverse Saga would require something “drastically different” from what audiences have already seen.
Hemsworth’s tease about doing something “pretty unique” suggests the studio isn’t content to simply recycle past story beats. And with Avengers: Doomsday positioned as a major crossover event, there’s every chance Thor’s next chapter could take him in an unexpected direction—whether that means deeper emotional storytelling, another tonal shift, or a storyline pulled straight from the comics.
It’s also worth noting that Thor remains one of the MCU’s most durable characters. Unlike Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) or Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), the Asgardian Avenger is still very much active in the timeline. He’s also now a father figure to Love, which opens the door for more personal storytelling moving forward.
For Marvel Studios, keeping Hemsworth on board provides stability as the franchise transitions into its next era. The MCU has said goodbye to several foundational heroes over the last few years. Holding onto Thor—even for “a couple more times”—gives audiences a familiar anchor as new characters rise.
How do you feel about more Thor after Avengers: Doomsday? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!