The Kang Dynasty Can Deliver On Thor’s Attempted Endgame Sacrifice

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty may finally offer Thor the opportunity to heroically sacrifice himself after he was denied the chance to do so during the events of Avengers: Endgame. The fifth Avengers movie, set to be released in 2025, will finally see Earth’s Mightiest Heroes face off against Kang the Conqueror, acting as the first installment of the two-part finale to the Multiverse Saga. With such a monumental fight ahead of them, the Avengers certainly won’t escape their confrontation with Kang unscathed and may indeed lose several core heroes from among their ranks, perhaps including the Norse god of thunder.

While Thor’s post-Endgame arc has been spotty, it was certainly a relief when the son of Odin emerged from the Infinity Saga unscathed. However, Thor’s ending could have been quite different had the other Avengers allowed him to wield the Infinity Gauntlet in the film’s final act to bring back Thanos’s victims. Despite begging his friends to let him sacrifice his body to wield the Gauntlet, the Hulk was chosen instead, with the power of the combined Infinity Stones greatly injuring him in the process. Thor was then forced to watch as Tony sacrificed himself during the ensuing battle, all the while feeling as though he had failed his friends.

Thor Needs To Die In Kang Dynasty – By Sacrificing Himself For The Avengers

After Thor: Love and Thunder, Chris Hemsworth has indicated that he wants Thor to die in his next MCU appearance, citing that the character has come to the point in the Hero’s Journey where it is time for him to face his ultimate demise. These assertions seem especially likely given the looming arrival of Kang the Conqueror, who is one of the few villains strong enough to kill a being as powerful as Thor. Following in the footsteps of the Mad Titan Thanos, whose conquest ended the lives of several beloved Avengers, Kang may be the villain to finally take Thor off the board, but not on his own terms.

Just as Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff sacrifice themselves to beat Thanos, and, while it is unclear whether Thor would have survived using the Infinity Gauntlet, he feels as though he was cheated out of a noble sacrifice. After watching so many of his friends give their lives for a higher cause, Thor’s MCU arc must end with a similar sacrifice. As a character, Thor yearns to make up for his many mistakes and, as a Viking warrior, he aims for a glorious death in the heat of battle. Sacrificing himself for the Avengers would fill both these needs, giving Thor the noble ending that he deserves.

Will Thor Really Die In Avengers: The Kang Dynasty?

The stage certainly seems set for Thor’s exit during The Kang Dynasty. While audiences are still looking forward to major events that have been teased, like Thor’s inevitable battle with Hercules, the major moments in Thor’s arc have mostly been wrapped up. As Hemsworth has indicated, Thor has undergone most stages of the Hero’s Journey and now is set up to finish his quest once and for all. While there has been some question about Thor 5 in the near future, the film really has no place in the MCU if it comes after Avengers: Secret Wars, making The Kang Dynasty a perfect time for Thor to meet his end.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is also prepared to suffer the loss of Thor, with recent events confirming that the franchise will survive without him. The MCU has set up three possible Thor replacements in recent years, including Brett Goldstein’s Hercules, who can easily fill a similar role in Phases 7 and beyond as Thor has since the early days of the franchise. As difficult as Thor’s imminent demise may be, the timing is perfect for the Avenger to take his final bow, both in terms of his overall story and the MCU’s current trajectory. With Avengers: The Kang Dynasty just over the horizon, Thor’s end appears to be drawing closer.