RUMOR: Thor 5 Officially In Development Without Director Taika Waititi

Thor is one of the original Avengers and the only one among the six rumored to be returning to the big screen for another solo movie. However, Thor 5 will be working with an entirely new creative force at the helm

Thor is one of the hit franchises in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It follows the Norse god of Thunder, played by Chris Hemsworth. The series began with Thor (2011), and it spawned three more sequels: Thor: The Dark World (2013), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). Marvel Studios hasn't officially announced Thor 5, but several insiders claimed it's in early development. This isn't unlikely because Hemsworth is among the confirmed cast members in Avengers: Doomsday, suggesting Thor could still be part of the MCU going forward.

Movie scooper Daniel Richtman shared some updates about Hemsworth's rumored solo MCU film. According to Richtman (via ComicBookMovie), Thor 5 is "officially" in development and will be part of post-Avengers: Secret Wars. The insider also added that Taika Waititi will not return to direct the movie, and that Thor 5 will reportedly have a fresh start for the series. Waititi had been a significant part of the franchise since he directed the third and fourth movies. He transformed the overall tone of the films by adding comedic perspective, and fans loved it initially. The audience approved of the humor, visual style, and reinvention of the character in Thor: Ragnarok. However, when Waititi returned for Love and Thunder, it received mixed reviews, with some saying the humor overshadowed the narrative's depth.

It Makes Sense That Marvel Studios Would Move Away From Taika Waititi For Thor 5

Hemsworth agreed that the last Thor film wasn't as great as the previous films. In an interview with GQ in June 2023, the Avengers star said the movie was "too silly" and he even called himself "a parody of myself" while adding that he "didn't stick the landing." The report about Thor 5 having a new director isn't surprising because Waititi had already addressed this. When asked about the rumored Thor 5 being in development with a new director in November 2023, Waititi said he wasn't sure about it but was certain that he would not be involved as he would focus on his other projects (via Variety). Another insider, @MyTimeToShineHello, also claimed in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Thor 5 will happen after Secret Wars and Waititi won't return. Hemsworth is reportedly pushing for Extraction director Sam Hargrave to take the director's chair for the said project.

The rumors about Thor 5 being in development have been around for years and haven't disappeared. Thor is still very much alive in the MCU, so Hemsworth returning for a solo movie is possible. The previous Thor movies performed well, so Marvel Studios would probably bet on another one. As for Waititi not helming the next Thor movie, it's not surprising at all. Several sources and reports claimed that the next Thor will have a new director, and Waititi himself has already said he would not be involved in it. It seems that Waititi has already moved on from it, and Hemsworth wants a new direction for his superhero role.

Source: ComicBookMovie