Just days after being spotted at a rugby match with the cast of Marvel Studios' Thor: Love and Thunder over the weekend, Deadline has confirmed that Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator; Man of Steel) has officially joined the cast of the Taika Waititi-directed sequel, which will see the return of Chris Hemsworth (Avengers: Endgame; Extraction) as the titular God of Thunder.
Further details are currently unavailable, but his role is said to be a fun cameo and one of the many surprises fans can expect from the hotly-awaited sequel.
Fellow Academy Award-winner Matt Damon (Jason Bourne; The Martian), Luke Hemsworth (Westworld; Death of Me), and 3x Golden Globe-nominee Sam Neill (Jurassic Park; Jurassic World: Dominion) have also been formally confirmed to reprise their roles from Thor: Ragnarok, although their involvement had already been spoiled by set photos.
In addition to Hemsworth as the God of Thunder, the cast will also feature Academy Award-winner Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Academy Award-winner Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Jaimie Alexander as Sif, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, 8x Academy Award-nominee Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon, Vin Diesel as Groot, and Taika Waititi as Korg.
The Academy Award-winning Waititi will return to the director's chair, utilizing a screenplay he co-wrote with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Someone Great; Sweet/Vicious). Plot details are currently under wraps.
Thor: Love and Thunder hammers its way into theaters May 6, 2022.