Thor Ragnarok. Thor: Love and Thunder will also see Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, and Natalie Portman reprise their roles, alongside Christian Bale and Russell Crowe.
Following on from his struggles across Valkyrie (Thompson) is in search of new love. With love and relationships being a central part of the sequel, the director has teased how central romance will be to the film's narrative.
In a video interview titled "The Cast of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ on What Couples They Ship Together" hosted by Fandango All Access, Waititi teased the role romance plays within the sequel. The director asserted that romance was a central part of the film, describing it as a "romantic comedy", "romantic tragedy", and a "dramedy". Waititi then explained that Thor: Love and Thunder would lean heavily into the romance, in a way that would not only satisfy audiences but also surprise them in ways they wouldn't expect. Read Waititi's full response below.
"It's a romance, a romantic comedy, it's a romantic tragedy, it's a dramedy. When we first came up with the ideas for this, the one thing I had in my mind, the picture I had in my mind was sort of Mills & Boon cover of like a romantic book. I want it to feel like that. Melodrama, over the--and to run head first into the romance, into the love aspect of it, and not shy away from it which I can tend to do in my films as New Zealander who's cynical and hates everything. But I was like, 'No, I'm going to commit to this. And I will make sure this satisfies people, satisfies audiences with the romance. And I'm not just talking about the romance you're all assuming I'm talking about!"
In previous interviews, Waititi explained the film's romantic inspirations and revealed a surprising source of inspiration. During an interview in May 2022, the director stated that he had approached the film as a romance, stating that he specifically drew inspiration from the covers of Mills & Boons romance novels, as well as romance comics. Despite assuring the film's romantic themes, Waititi promised that the film would not be predictable, saying that he was aiming to make the film unexpected while remaining in the confines of the genre.
From its earliest first reveal during Marvel Studios presentation at SDCC 2019, Thor: Love and Thunder's romantic elements have been at the forefront of its promotion, and Waititi's comments further solidify how central they will be to the narrative. The most recently released trailer featured a heavy focus on Thor's reunion with Jane, while the God of Thunder's fight with Gorr has seen him state his bonds are what gives him strength. While Thor and Jane may not be the romantic focus that audiences expect, Thor: Love and Thunder promises to showcase how relationships are invaluable to a hero in the face of danger.
Source: Fandango All Access
