In recent months, rumours have swirled that Marvel Studios is developing Thor 5 without filmmaker Taika Waititi. Last year's Thor: Love and Thunder made a respectable $760.9 million at the worldwide box office, but earned mostly negative reviews from fans and critics.
Even the God of Thunder himself, Chris Hemsworth, has thrown the Thor: Ragnarok follow-up under the bus by describing it as "too silly" and admitting "I cringe and laugh equally at it."
Still, he remains keen to play Thor again and will do so without Waititi. Talking to Business Insider about his new movie Next Goal Wins, the filmmaker confirmed he isn't going to be stepping back behind the camera for another movie revolving around the Marvel Comics superhero.
"I wouldn’t know if that’s accurate," he said when asked about rumours Thor 5 is being worked on without him. "I know that I won’t be involved...I’m going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for."
Among them is a Star Wars movie he says, "[is] still marinating." Waititi added, "I've been writing it," but confirmed he also plans to adapt Alejandro Jodorowsky's graphic novel The Incal along with Kazuo Ishiguro's novel Klara and the Sun.
"So that’s six, seven years gone," he noted. "I’d imagine another ‘Thor’ would be a lot sooner than that...But I love Marvel, I love working with them. I love Chris. I would never feel like they are cheating on me. We’re in an open relationship, and it’s like if they want to see other people, I’m happy for that. I’d still get back into bed with them one day."
In the Thor: Love and Thunder - The Official Movie Special book released by Titan earlier this year, the writer and director spoke about what he'd like to do with another Thor movie. However, that interview was likely conducted during or right after Love and Thunder wrapped shooting.
"What is left to do to him?" Waititi wondered. "It’s got to be something that feels like it’s carrying on with the evolution of the character, but still in a very fun way and still giving him things to come up against that feel like they’re building on the obstacles that he has to overcome. I don’t think we can have a villain that’s weaker than Hela. I feel like we need to step up from there and add a villain that’s somehow more formidable."
Another fresh start for the Thor franchise feels like the right move, though where that leaves characters like Korg, Love, and Hercules remains to be seen.
What would you like to see from Thor 5?