# Natalie Portman is the new Thor **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2019, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398 "2019-07-21T13:27:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/41 "2019-07-22T14:28:22Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > But what I was reading sure made it seem like her being with Thor had absolutely nothing to do with why Mjolnir picked her. Thor was completely unaware that she was the new Thor. (I also presume that means she looks quite different powered up.) All of this is correct. Thor Odinson was shocked when he finally discovered that it was Jane – he had made at least one other (incorrect) guess as to her identity. And, though she wore a helmet with a mask that covered her upper face, [Jane-as-Thor also had blonde hair](https://cdn1us.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeekus/files/2019/07/thor-4-jane-foster.jpg), whereas Jane-as-Jane is a brunette (and, at that time, she was bald, due to the effects of chemotherapy). And, of course, she was also like a foot taller, and far more muscular, as Thor. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/42 "2019-07-22T14:35:00Z")
I like Portman and think she could do well in the role. Her previous Thor movie appearances certainly weren’t her best work (check out _Cold Mountain, V for Vendetta_ and _Black Swan_ for that, IMHO), but I thought she did all right. Unless the reviews are gawdawful, I’ll probably see the film. > [@pool](#): > > They should have gotten the actress that plays Brienne of Tarth from game of thrones or whatever to play the female Thor, she has the look of a woman that could wield the hammer of Thor. Heh. That was exactly the actress I was thinking of, too: [Gwendoline Christie - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwendoline_Christie) > [@GuanoLad](#): > > Nice to see we’re already nitpicking a movie that hasn’t been written yet. Just one more service we offer. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/43 "2019-07-22T14:47:40Z")
Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought Natalie Portman left the MCU. I’m not sure I want a “quitter”, unless she’s locked into a multi-film contract (which I’m sure she would be? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/44 "2019-07-22T19:18:26Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Nice to see we’re already nitpicking a movie that hasn’t been written yet. No, we’re nitpicking a press release etc that _has_ been written. Do try to keep up. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/45 "2019-07-22T19:21:52Z")
if people are unhappy wait until they hear George Lucas is the director/writer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/46 "2019-07-23T00:52:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Plus, if they decide to change course based on the fans thinking they made a mistake, better that they realize that early, when it’s still possible to change course, rather than later. Uh huh. Sure. I bet they’re right onto that. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/47 "2019-07-23T01:55:34Z")
Portman did start her career out by playing the part of a bloodthirsty assassin, and did a fairly good job of it. Obviously, that hasn’t been the sort of role that she has played since then but, then again, I don’t know that she has really stood out in any role since then either. (I would place Black Swan on the shoulders of Darren Aronofsky and Satoshi Kon, not Portman - no offense to her.) It does indeed seem to be that the character, in the comics, is in fact a waif at the start. My guess would be that they will or already have filmed her as she is now and that she’ll then go into hiding from the paparazzi for six months, bulking up, and they’ll film the rest of the film, using camera angles and other tricks (ala the Hobbits in Peter Jackson’s films) to make her seem larger compared to other people than she actually is for all the dramatic/close-up shots. And, of course, for action scenes they’ll just go full CGI and make her whatever size they want. Height is really the key constraint. But height is also purely a function of how close you are standing to the camera. Muscle is easy to add - if you’re willing to do the filming in two chunks. I imagine that they have that ability. I’ll be interested in seeing how well she does at “god-like”. I would expect that just seeing herself looking like [this](https://images.app.goo.gl/i6nFXsCpTfvNFjuZ9) will go a fair ways towards helping herself get into the mood. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/48 "2019-07-23T02:03:12Z")
They will inverse what they did with Chris Evans for the first _Captain America_. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/49 "2019-07-23T02:20:01Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought Natalie Portman left the MCU. > > I’m not sure I want a “quitter”, unless she’s locked into a multi-film contract (which I’m sure she would be? She did sign a 3-film contract, but they didn’t specify in advance which three they would be. > **[What happened to Natalie Portman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)?](https://www.quora.com/What-happened-to-Natalie-Portman-in-the-Marvel-Cinematic-Universe-MCU)** > > Answer (1 of 7): When she signed her contract to play Jane Foster, it was for three movies. > > She did Thor, and had a pretty good time with it. Then she suggested they sign Patty Jenkins for Thor 2. A lot went down between Jenkins and the executives... According to this article, she did a couple lines of voice-over in _Endgame,_ got into the credits, and may have satisfied the 3-film contract requirement, but they did leave the door open for her to make a third movie. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/50 "2019-07-23T03:09:05Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > They will inverse what they did with Chris Evans for the first _Captain America_. Too expensive. Much cheaper to hire a fitness coach and put the camera closer to her than everyone else. Certainly, they could afford going full special effect for every scene with her. But, why do so when you could spend the money more effectively on other things? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/51 "2019-07-23T04:05:06Z")
[relevant PvP strip](http://pvponline.com/comic/2019-07-22) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/52 "2019-07-23T04:35:19Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Certainly, they could afford going full special effect for every scene with her. But, why do so when you could spend the money more effectively on other things? Clearly you don’t know how Marvel does things. They will digitally replace an entire costume for thousands of shots if it isn’t quite shiny enough. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/53 "2019-07-23T05:07:28Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [relevant PvP strip](http://pvponline.com/comic/2019-07-22) I mean, I know that her and Thor probably banged in the first two movies, but I don’t see the need to stress that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/54 "2019-07-23T07:01:20Z")
Maybe, just maybe, Taika Waititi is smart enough to think that “the power of Thor” and “hopped up on 'roids” are not synonymous, and will give us a female Thor played by Natalie Portman more-or-less exactly as she is as Jane Foster. Chris Hemsworth didn’t get any _less_ ripped when he was trapped on Earth, unworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/55 "2019-07-23T13:40:23Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Maybe, just maybe, Taika Waititi is smart enough to think that “the power of Thor” and “hopped up on 'roids” are not synonymous As I understand, the comic had Fostor-Thor looking “hopped up on 'roids” to where Thor-Thor didn’t recognize her. With the comic being the primary justification for this whole story line. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/56 "2019-07-23T15:46:29Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > As I understand, the comic had Fostor-Thor looking “hopped up on 'roids” to where Thor-Thor didn’t recognize her. With the comic being the primary justification for this whole story line. Yes, I know. Marvel comics also have evil invading Skrulls, so let’s just say the MCU isn’t wedded to what’s comics canon. It’s entirely possible to follow the storyline without the visuals. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/57 "2019-07-23T16:19:38Z")
I’m not worried about the visuals. If they want to make her looked bulked up, modern special effects techniques are well up to that task. Or they could go the waif-fu route, which doesn’t make any sense in real life, but hey, comic book movie. I’m worried about Portman’s performance, not her size. She can’t be a good Jane-Foster-as-Thor, if she can’t even be a good Jane-Foster-as-Jane-Foster. For comparison, Tessa Thompson isn’t exactly huge, either, but she was great as Valkyrie. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/58 "2019-07-23T16:26:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But you see, she is not getting the POWER of Thor, she BECOMES Thor, which is what I dont like. > > Thor isnt a job title, it’s his name. She’s not Thor, she’s Lady Thor. Can we just merge this thread with the “Lady 007” thread? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/59 "2019-07-23T18:17:49Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > She’s not Thor, she’s Lady Thor. > > Can we just merge this thread with the “Lady 007” thread? Why? And I hope they get a cool, sophisticated spy- that happens to be female- to take over the 007 number, that looks great. It would also be cool to see Jane wield the power and Hammer of Thor. But the _names_ are a different thing. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/60 "2019-07-23T18:31:35Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Why? > > And I hope they get a cool, sophisticated spy- that happens to be female- to take over the 007 number, that looks great. It would also be cool to see Jane wield the power and Hammer of Thor. > > But the _names_ are a different thing. Literally all we have to go off here is a headline. It’s easier to say “Jane Foster will become Thor,” than it is to say “Jane Foster will get the powers of Thor. She obviously won’t become the actual Thor since Chris Hemsworth is still in the movie. I know it’s a little confusing since unlike Iron Man or Captain America, Thor is both his real name and his superhero name. (Although remember when he used to be Donald Blake?) The movie hasn’t even been written yet. She might not even get a superhero name. In fact, that’s a pretty common part of MCU movies to not give superhero names right away. Did you notice that they never actually name ‘Valkyrie’? We don’t know her name. They just say she was a Valkyrie. Oh no, this headline has now taken up enough space that we’ve run out of room for an actual article.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398.md?page=4)