More than 15 years after directing the original Thor, Kenneth Branagh has admitted he “would love to finish my relationship with that character.” He already has a specific vision in mind.
But in a conversation with Business Insiders this week, Branagh said he has “a couple of ideas, more in the territory of James Mangold‘s brilliant Logan.” That’s a pretty stark departure from a franchise that has leaned heavily on comedy and spectacle since his 2011 original.
“I would love to see Chris Hemsworth and the others have their own individual final story that takes Thor into a glorious twilight,” he adds. “something very beautiful to take those characters into their own particular sunset.”
The desire for a darker ending is understandable when you consider the template he’s drawing from.
Mangold’s Logan was an exploration of a superhero’s legacy. In it, we see an aging Wolverine watch over the dying Charles Xavier. This happens before he succumbs to death himself. Branagh clearly sees this potential inherent in Thor’s story.
In the same Business Insider interview, Branagh also revealed that he had been approached to come back on board for Thor: The Dark World, but turned down the offer, saying he needed a “break” after a three-year stint on the first film. “Marvel shoots are intense. Marvel postproduction is more intense — wildly exciting but super intense. I definitely needed to smell the roses,” he says. Kevin Feige was understanding, he notes, but adds: “I was thrilled to be asked. They were disappointed; they understood, but they were disappointed.”
After Branagh left, Alan Taylor took over for Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Taika Waititi then joined for both Thunder: Ragnarok (2017) and Thor: Love And Thunder (2022). Branagh has described these sequels as “amazing films,” and he’s watched them “with a mix of tremendous pride and amazement at the many ways such stories can” turn out.
However, a very realistic take is also available on whether it is actually possible to make it happen. Branagh admitted that Marvel’s future plans are already likely set, saying, “They are so far deep into the future of the Marvel Universe that I’m sure whatever plans they have for it are already kind of set. All I know is there’s something beautiful to be had out of arriving at a conclusion for that arc.”
A fifth Thor movie was dubbed but not officially confirmed. Chris Hemsworth is scheduled to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. This marks his 10th time in the role. Kevin Feige may want Branagh for a final chapter. However, this remains up in the air. The next Thor movie has not been officially announced.
For now, Branagh’s pitch stands as one of the more intriguing what-ifs in the MCU.
