Many fans have theorized that Chris Hemsworth’s Thor will die inAvengers: Doomsday, but I’m convinced that isn’t going to happen - simply because of the comics that inspire the story. The Multiverse Saga is coming to an end in two blockbusterAvengersmovies,DoomsdayandSecret Wars, and many believe Earth’s Mightiest Heroes pay the ultimate price.
Chris Hemsworth is confirmed to be returning as part ofDoomsday’s cast, reprizing the role that he’s played for over a decade. As exciting as it may be to seeThor appear in the MCUagain, though, Hemsworth’s presence has sparked speculation that the God of Thunder is about to make his last appearance.
Theories About Thor’s Death Have Run Rampant For Avengers: Doomsday
Chris Hemsworth’s Video Fueled The Fire
Fans have been theorizing about Thor’s death ever since 2022’sThor: Love and Thunder. It felt like Thor’s solo MCU story had already reached a conclusion when he joined the Guardians of the Galaxy at the end ofAvengers: Endgame. Many were surprised about the fourth film in theThorfranchise, and it feels like there isn’t much else to do with the character.
When Hemsworth was confirmed to return inAvengers: Doomsday, the theories behind Thor’s death started to ramp up. PastAvengersfilms have not shied away from killing off major characters, with both Black Widow and Iron Man dying inEndgame. The otheroriginal core Avengers- Captain America, Hulk, and Hawkeye - have all taken a step back as well.
Considering that Hemsworth has been in the MCU for 15 years, he’s been around for so long that it just feels like his time in the franchise is almost up. The theories were especially fueled bythe video that the actor posted at the end of May. Thanking fans for their support of the character, he paid tribute to Thor’s legacy.
Hemsworth’s video felt like a goodbye to the character. It’s eerily similar to another released by Chris Evans shortly before he retired as Captain America inEndgame, leaving many deeply concerned. It’s no wonder that fans seem sure about Thor dying inAvengers: Doomsday, as there doesn’t seem to be any other reason that the actor would need to bid farewell to Thor.
Avengers: Secret Wars' Comic Source Material Shows Exactly Why The MCU Is Unlikely To Kill Thor Beforehand
Thor Plays A Key Role In Secret Wars
Although Thor’s MCU death feels imminent, there’s one key reason as to why Marvel won’t actually kill him off inAvengers: Doomsday. It’s because the God of Thunder is featured heavily in theSecret Warscomic book arc that’s being adapted intoAvengers 6; if the MCU is adapting that series, then Marvel will need to keep Thor around.
In the comics,Secret Warssaw the entire Marvel multiverse collapse into a single world - Battleworld, a place where all the survivors lived, ruled by Doctor Doom. Naturally, the chaos of Battleworld would have been indescribable without powerful law enforcement; soDoom established a group called the Thor Corps, Doom’s personal police force, who served him without question.
The Thor Corps were made up of individuals across different realities who were all worthy of wielding Mjolnir - and many of them are versions of Thor Odinson himself.Secret Warswould frankly feel like something of a let-down without the Thor Corps, and that surely means Chris Hemsworth will be back forAvengers 6.
The Thor Corps Could Be Perfect For Thor’s MCU Arc
The Idea Of The Thor Corps Is Inherently Comedic
The concept of “variants” has been key to the Multiverse Saga, ever sinceLokiseason 1; but it fell toDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessto show us just how Marvel can twist characters we already know into something new. It would be an exciting idea to see a similar concept to this, only with multiple variants of the same character.
The Thor Corps would arguably fit into the MCU’s current tonal approach for Thor, too. The Asgardian hero has experienced some great tragedies, but for better or for worse,he has shifted into a more comedic role. BothThor: RagnarokandLove and Thunderleaned into Thor’s humor, and Marvel could do the same withAvengers: Secret Wars.
There’s something inherently funny about the idea of an army of Thor variants reduced to serving as beat cops, and it would make a great way to show off the true scale of the multiverse - and Doom’s victory. Thor needs to make it toAvengers: Secret Warsif Marvel wants to use the Thor Corps, askilling him off in a major moment just to bring back his variants would destroy the emotional pacing.
It’s still completely possible that Thor will die in the MCU at some point. However, knowing how key the Thor Corps is toSecret Wars, it seems likely that Marvel will keep the character alive for now. Having him die inAvengers: Doomsdayjust before the Thor Corps make their debut would be a mistake, and hopefully, Marvel knows that.
