# 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:** 5
**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 24, 2019, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/81 "2019-07-24T01:54:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure. But why is she NAMED Thor? I am fine she gets the Hammer, and the Power, etc. Nice to see it. But getting the _name_ makes no sense. It’s just marvel fucking with us again, like Cap being Hydra. She’s not _Thor_; she’s _The Mighty Thor_. See link in post #69. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/82 "2019-07-24T02:33:35Z")
The official title of Thor (Odinson)'s comic series was “The Mighty Thor” for years. Most of Marvel’s heroes came with adjectives like that–The Mighty Thor, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Invincible Iron Man, etc. It’s fine if they want to use that to market the Natalie Portman character, but to long-time comic readers, it’s not really that much of a distinction. That bit of geekery out of the way, I approve of this development. I have no problems with Portman’s performance as Jane Foster, and was actually rather disappointed when she was apparently written out of the series in Ragnarok. I’m hoping the fact that she agreed to return means that she has some level of enthusiasm for the project. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/83 "2019-07-24T04:13:11Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The thing is, assuming they’re following the comics, when Jane becomes Thor, the other guy stops being Thor. Completely. He doesn’t use the name or anything. Calls himself “Odinson,” instead. The comics are very clear that “Thor” is as much a title/position as it is a specific person, and that title can be passed around, and the name and the title aren’t separable. > > So, to the extent that the movie ends up following the comics, your explanation to **DrDeth** is wrong. in Endgame - were both CA and Thor ‘Thor’ or only one? if the title follows the hammer? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/84 "2019-07-24T07:44:23Z")
> [@simster](#): > > in Endgame - were both CA and Thor ‘Thor’ or only one? if the title follows the hammer? I didn’t say the title followed the hammer, although in the comic, Thor not being worthy for one was pretty directly tied to not being worthy for the other. But he can still be worthy, and still be Thor, when someone else is wielding Mjolnir. Although, I suppose you can look at it like the difference between using the hammer, and owning it. The hammer belongs to Thor, although it will rarely consent to being used by someone it deems worthy. It might sometimes not let Thor use it temporarily to teach him a lesson. But if it gives up on him entirely and chooses a new person to be its owner, that person becomes Thor. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/85 "2019-07-24T10:56:06Z")
> [@BeagleJesus](#): > > I think Natalie Portman is a great actor when she has a role that (I believe) she enjoys. That being said, she doesn’t seem to be able to get it up for the sci-fi/fantasy stuff (see Thor & Star Wars). I thought she was good in both Annihilation and V for Vendetta. ---
**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 24, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/86 "2019-07-24T11:24:55Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The hammer belongs to Thor, although it will rarely consent to being used by someone it deems worthy. It might sometimes not let Thor use it temporarily to teach him a lesson. So it’s a cat? ---
**Author:** ![BeagleJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@BeagleJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeagleJesus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/87 "2019-07-24T12:09:54Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I thought she was good in both Annihilation and V for Vendetta. Totally agree on V for Vendetta and I haven’t seen Annihilation but the trailer looked pretty good. My point is, if you give Portman a role with some meat on it she can knock it out of the park. Give her a cliché/stereotype and she’s just gonna phone it in and collect her check. I just hope whoever is writing and/or directing will give her a role worthy of her talents so we can get her best. ---
**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 24, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/88 "2019-07-24T13:47:09Z")
> [@BeagleJesus](#): > > I just hope whoever is writing and/or directing will give her a role worthy of her talents so we can get her best. Taika Waititi is directing and writing, and he’s brilliant (he did _Thor:Ragnarok_, amongst others) ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/89 "2019-07-24T13:57:04Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > So it’s a cat? That’s why the hammer is sometimes called Meow Meow. ---
**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 24, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/90 "2019-07-24T14:21:25Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > That’s why the hammer is sometimes called Meow Meow. _golf clap_ ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/91 "2019-07-24T14:23:48Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Taika Waititi is directing and writing, and he’s brilliant (he did _Thor:Ragnarok_, amongst others) Yeah, if we know anything it’s that the screenplay will be refreshing and different and it’ll give Portman something with which to work. Waititi may not be the most serious writer/director around, but he’s certainly one of the more innovative. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/92 "2019-07-24T15:06:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure. But why is she NAMED Thor? I am fine she gets the Hammer, and the Power, etc. Nice to see it. But getting the _name_ makes no sense. It’s just marvel fucking with us again, like Cap being Hydra. I think she just decided to call herself Thor. I don’t really care about She-Thor. I’m just wondering if the MCU is now going to go totally off the rails since the conclusion of the Infinity Stones stuff. For 15 years, they introduced all these various characters that all kind of tied together nicely around the Infinity Stones story line, all things considered. So I’m kind of wondering if they have something similar in mind for the next 15 years or if they are just making it up as they go. ---
**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 24, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/93 "2019-07-24T15:16:24Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I don’t really care about She-Thor. I’m just wondering if the MCU is now going to go totally off the rails since the conclusion of the Infinity Stones stuff. For 15 years, they introduced all these various characters that all kind of tied together nicely around the Infinity Stones story line, all things considered. So I’m kind of wondering if they have something similar in mind for the next 15 years or if they are just making it up as they go. I mean, they were making stuff up as they went early on, it just worked out. For example, it was pretty clear that they never meant for Loki’s Scepter to contain the mind stone. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/94 "2019-07-24T15:21:21Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > In the movies, at least, it seemed like one of the main points of Ragnarok was that _Thor_ was Thor, not because of a magic hammer but because… he was Thor. I suppose that doesn’t preclude the hammer making people Thor-like but it seems weird that you’d carry around a hammer that gave you the power of you. It’s like Peter Parker having his spider mojo and also wearing a special suit that gives him the proportional strength of a spider. Well, he does construct mechincal web slingers to get about ‘like a spider’, but anybody could use them. As a result, Peter Parker isn’t the only Spider Man, and lots of people have taken the mantle. So probably a bad example. ---
**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 24, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/95 "2019-07-24T15:30:28Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > In the movies, at least, it seemed like one of the main points of Ragnarok was that _Thor_ was Thor, not because of a magic hammer but because… he was Thor. I suppose that doesn’t preclude the hammer making people Thor-like but it seems weird that you’d carry around a hammer that gave you the power of you. It’s like Peter Parker having his spider mojo and also wearing a special suit that gives him the proportional strength of a spider. Well basically it went like this. 1. Thor has powers on his own, but thinks the hammer gives it to him. 2. Odin takes away his powers, and puts the enchantment on Mjolnir, giving his powers to anyone worthy enough to wield it. 3. Thor becomes worthy again, wields Mjolnir, gets his hammer back. 4. Odin never removes the enchantment 5. Hammer gets destroyed, Thor learns the powers are his own. ---
**Author:** ![BeagleJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@BeagleJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeagleJesus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/96 "2019-07-24T15:40:22Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Taika Waititi is directing and writing, and he’s brilliant (he did _Thor:Ragnarok_, amongst others) Ragnarok is easily one of my favorite Marvel offerings. It has a very Fifth Element feel to the whole thing that just makes it a joy to watch. I think I’m starting to look forward to this one. ---
**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 24, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/97 "2019-07-24T17:04:16Z")
> [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](#): > > Well, he does construct mechincal web slingers to get about ‘like a spider’, but anybody could use them. As a result, Peter Parker isn’t the only Spider Man, and lots of people have taken the mantle. > > So probably a bad example. Eh, you missed my point. Parker, as far as I know and depending on version, either shoots his own webs or makes mechanical webshooters. (Again, AFAIK), the versions of Parker who can shoot webs organically and climbs walls while naked don’t ALSO have him using mechanical webshooters or a suit that specifically allows him to climb walls. You’ll note that I specifically mentioned “proportional strength of a spider” and not “shoots webs” for that very reason – every version of Parker (newspaper, comic books, film, cartoons, etc) has him innately able to pick up heavy stuff so the idea of him wearing a suit that’s also for picking up the same amount of heavy stuff would be pretty silly. Edit: I’ll trust **enalzi** ’s description of it. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/98 "2019-07-24T21:22:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > **So, I am sticking to the films** , where they make somewhat more sense. In that, there has always been only one Thor, he was never a mortal doctor, etc, and even when he lost his hammer, he was still Thor. [bolding mine] Then maybe wait for this movie to come out and see how they handle it, before jumping to conclusions that don’t really matter? I seem to remember (and please correct me if I’m wrong) that you get pretty upset when people screw with character names (like referring to a Gary Oldman character as “Commissioner Gordon” when discussing a movie that isn’t Batman (not that that actually happened, but something like that)). So maybe this is just a hot button issue for you that most of the other people in this thread don’t have any issue with, and you’re blowing it pretty far out of proportion. Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/99 "2019-07-25T01:53:25Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > [bolding mine] > > Then maybe wait for this movie to come out and see how they handle it, before jumping to conclusions that don’t really matter? I seem to remember (and please correct me if I’m wrong) that you get pretty upset when people screw with character names (like referring to a Gary Oldman character as “Commissioner Gordon” when discussing a movie that isn’t Batman (not that that actually happened, but something like that)). So maybe this is just a hot button issue for you that most of the other people in this thread don’t have any issue with, and you’re blowing it pretty far out of proportion. Just a thought. I am not complaining about the film, I am complaining about how the film is being \*publicized. \* That’s a bit different, but yes, I’d rather people use the actor’s real name. I got that from the actors I know, all of whom despise that. It hurts their career, also. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398/100 "2019-07-25T02:25:05Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That’s a bit different, but yes, I’d rather people use the actor’s real name. Then maybe a mod could correct the title to “Natalie Hershlag is the new Thor.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-portman-is-the-new-thor/837398.md?page=6)