Content Warning: Major SPOILERS Ahead For Love And Thunder
Thor: Love and Thunder once again united fans with the god of thunder as he galavants across the galaxy seeking to fight for good and protect the innocent. Teaming up with various friends he’s made throughout his tenure in the MCU, Thor battles against the villainous Gorr the God Butcher.
Thor has always found strength in his friends and the latest installment of his journey is no different, as numerous heroes come to his aid during this fight. However, many characters’ fates are left unexplored by the film’s end, leaving fans to wonder where they might see these men and women return next in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Zeus – Gods Of Olympus Project
Love and Thunder introduces audiences to several different pantheons of mythological gods, both historical and fictional. However, the most prominent of these is that of the Greek deities, primarily Russell Crowe’s Zeus who, though injured, remains alive by the end of the film, as revealed in the mid-credit scene.
Zeus and the other Greek gods could certainly carry their spinoff project, perhaps one delving into the various myths regarding their many deities. The Greek gods are a vital part of Marvel lore and open up the MCU to multiple other religious pantheons given their involvement with Omniscience City.
Bast – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The Egyptian goddess Bast has a very small role in Love and Thunder, with a minor silent cameo during the sequence Omniscience City. However, the character is incredibly important to the MCU as the patron goddess of the Wakandan people, specifically the Black Panther.
Bast’s seemingly unimportant cameo in Love and Thunder could in reality indicate major stories to come in the Wakandan side of the MCU. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a mere four months away, and could very well feature the personification of the titular hero’s patron god, who could be the one to select her next avatar.
Korg – Thor 5
Despite being a massive change from the character in the comics, Korg is a beloved part of the Thor franchise in the MCU which many fans simply can’t get enough of. Making this third appearance in Love and Thunder, Korg plays a far bigger role in the film’s plot than ever before.
Although Korg has become a favorite of many MCU fans, there are in reality very few future projects that the Kronan could seamlessly fit into. Korg fits best into the franchise’s overall tone and story when he is fighting alongside Thor himself, making the lovable rock pile’s best chance at another appearance in the as-yet-unannounced fifth film in the Thor franchise.
Lady Sif – Loki Season 2
Lady Sif has a brief but important role in this film, making her long-awaited return to the Thor franchise. She is the one to initially alert Thor to Gorr the God Butcher’s conquest throughout the galaxy and is last seen training the next generation of warriors in New Asgard, leaving Sif’s fate quite open-ended by the time the credits roll.
After Thor: The Dark World, Lady Sif was largely absent from the MCU until her surprise cameo in the first season of Loki. With a second season of the hit Disney+ show currently undergoing production, it would not be entirely outside the realm of possibility for the Asgardian, or a variant thereof, to once again appear in the multiversal streaming series.
Hercules – Avengers 5
Much to fans’ delight, the mid-credit scene of Love and Thunder reveals Brett Goldstein’s Hercules, the Greek demigod of ancient myth. As a central character from Marvel Comics, Hercules is destined for a significant part in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Hercules may very well appear in many films on the MCU’s horizon, he seems like a prime candidate to join the next lineup of the Avengers. The character is a significant part of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in Marvel Comics and could prove to be a vital ally in the rumored Secret Wars event that may serve as the plotline for a potential Avengers 5.
Valkyrie – Potential Solo Film
Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie is the king of New Asgard and one of Thor’s closest surviving friends after Ragnarok wiped out the original Asgard. Despite suffering a grave injury at the hands of Gorr the God Butcher, Valkyrie lives to fight another day, renewed in her effort to prepare her people for whatever threat they may come upon next.
Valkyrie will no doubt continue to be an integral part of Marvel’s Phase 4 and beyond, with Tessa Thompson’s character only increasing in popularity over the years. Now that she has been firmly established by her appearances in the latest two Thor films and an extended cameo in Endgame, the time has finally come for the king of Asgard to finally receive her spinoff film or Disney+ series, where her heroic exploits can be explored in further depth.
Groot – I Am Groot
Groot is one of the most beloved members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, who makes a brief cameo in the early scenes of the film. Despite leaving with the other Guardians early in the film, Groot still leaves the audience wanting more from their favorite talking alien tree.
Fans of Groot won’t have to wait long for the Guardian of the Galaxy’s next appearance, as his very own series of short films, I Am Groot, is only weeks away from debuting on Disney+. The series is set to include five original shorts starring Baby Groot, indicating that it will take place sometime before the events of Avengers: Infinity War.
The Guardians – Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special
The Guardians of the Galaxy continue their journey with Thor at the onset of Love and Thunder, helping those throughout the galaxy that cannot help themselves. The group makes an early exit from the film, however, leaving to quench the many fires set ablaze throughout the galaxy by Gorr the God Butcher’s relentless conquest.
Anything involving the Guardians cast is something worth looking forward to, making 2022 and 2023 exciting years for MCU fans, who won’t have to wait long to see the team of misfits unite once more. The Guardians are set to appear in a special holiday short film, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which is expected to debut this December.
Jane Foster – Thor 5
Jane Foster makes her heroic return to the MCU after an extended absence, debuting as the Mighty Thor. Though she dies by the film’s end, Jane is shown to have entered the storied halls of Valhalla, alongside Heimdall and the many other Viking heroes and gods that have passed away throughout the ages.
Despite Jane’s death at the end of the film, her consciousness lives on in the halls of Valhalla, leaving the door open for Natalie Portman to cameo in future installments of the Thor franchise. Though death is rarely permanent in the MCU, Natalie Portman’s history with the franchise indicates that her character will be relegated only to short appearances in the future, rather than featured roles in any upcoming films.
Thor – Guardians Of The Galaxy, Volume 3
Chris Hemsworth returns once more to deepen his character of Thor, earning the honor of becoming the first hero in the MCU to earn a fourth solo film. During the events of Love and Thunder, Thor must finally come to the point of self-actualization, eventually taking in the orphaned daughter of Gorr the God Butcher as his own, emotionally filling the long-standing blank space in his life.
Despite many theories that Hemsworth’s time in the MCU may be nearing its end, it would appear that the god of thunder will have at least one more appearance in the franchise before taking his final bow. While rumors persist of his involvement in the next Avengers entry and even a fifth Thor film, the most likely next project for the god of thunder is the upcoming third Guardians of the Galaxy film. Given the character’s close connection with the team, a cameo from the god of thunder would be a welcome addition to the already highly-anticipated project.
