Thor 5 Has The Perfect Chance To Make The Unused Original Thor Movie Idea A Reality 7+ Years Later

Marvel Studios would benefit from using the original concept for the first Thor movie in the MCU in the as-yet-unconfirmed Thor 5. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is currently the only MCU hero to have been gifted four solo movies, but not all of these installments have been well-received. While Thor: Ragnarok received huge acclaim, each of Thor’s other live-action adventures have received criticism for various reasons. For 2011’s Thor and its 2013 sequel, The Dark World, the serious, stoic tones of the hero were criticized, but this was almost even more prevalent.

Since his debut in 2011, Thor has become an Avenger, a King, a gladiator without his hammer and a Guardian of the Galaxy, and he has now embarked on a new adventure as the adoptive father to the resurrected daughter of Gorr the God Butcher, Love. Thor: Love and Thunder is the hero’s lowest-rated project, however, which has left his future in the MCU uncertain. Chris Hemsworth has teased his return in the MCU’s possible Thor 5, and it would be great to see this unconfirmed project take Thor back to his roots.

Thor’s Unused Viking Period Film Idea Could Be Used To Great Effect In Thor 5

Thor’s Original Viking Concept Could Be Revived In The MCU

The recently-released book, Marvel Studios: The Art of Ryan Meinerding, showcases concept art from Marvel Studios’ Head of Visual Development dating back to the very beginning of the MCU. Among this artwork is that drawn during the development of 2011’s Thor, which showcases Marvel’s original plan to make Thor a period piece set during the time of the Vikings, some of which he revealed back in 2017 (via Facebook). Since Thor comes from Norse mythology in the real world, it would be brilliant to see this integrated into the story of Thor 5.

Three Ryan Meinerding studies were done during pre-production on Thor… They were created over a two-week period of a long-lead exploration, during which time Thor was being developed as a Viking-era period film.

While Thor and Thor: The Dark World received some heat for relying too heavily on the more traditional, Shakespearean tones of Thor from Marvel Comics, there have been calls for a move away from Taika Waititi’s humor in Thor 5. Reintroducing Viking-era textures to Thor would be a fantastic way to produce this tonal change. This could also help to expand on Thor’s long history in the MCU, much of which has gone unseen since his debut in Phase 1, and this could be a great move if Thor 5 explores the God of Thunder’s emotional ending.

Why Using Thor’s Unused Viking Idea For Flashback Scenes Makes Most Sense For The MCU

Thor Existed Alongside Vikings In The MCU

Thor’s existence during the era of the Vikings in the MCU has been confirmed in several projects, including Thor, Eternals and Thor: Love and Thunder. Despite this, Thor’s incredibly long history in the MCU has barely been explored at all, so it would be brilliant to see some flashbacks in Thor 5 which could showcase Thor as a true Viking hero. This would be especially important if Thor 5 does what is speculated and marks the end of Thor’s story, with him either meeting his demise or fully retiring in the as-yet-unconfirmed movie.

Thor has been one of the MCU’s most-improved characters, showing a huge amount of growth since his debut as an egotistical, short-tempered and power-hungry would-be King. Flashing-back to Thor’s experiences during the Viking era could show audiences just how far the Avenger has come over his long life, delivering the perfect full-circle moment before he finally meets his end. Thor’s departure from the MCU will surely be emotional, but Marvel Studios can handle it with care, paying homage to the past while paving the way for new Thor-themed heroes in the future.

Why Thor 5 Needs To Happen

Thor Needs Redemption After Love & Thunder

Even if Thor 5 delivers the final blow and marks Chris Hemsworth’s departure from the MCU as the God of Thunder, it’s still important that this project goes into development. There’s a bad taste in the mouth after Thor: Love and Thunder, so Thor needs redemption more than most other characters in the MCU. Thor 5 taking on a darker, more serious tone, and delivering a powerful and poignant final adventure would be the perfect way to redeem him from the silliness of Love and Thunder​​​​​​​, and harking back to his origins long before 2011’s Thor would achieve this perfectly.

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