(SeaPRwire) – Thor has endured quite a journey. The Asgardian Avenger has grappled with Earth’s customs, clashed with his brother, relocated his entire home society, battled his fellow Avengers, survived a cosmic gladiator fight alongside a colleague, witnessed his friends turn to dust, let himself slip in order to cope, faced off against a monochrome Christian Bale, and embraced fatherhood.
It’s hard to believe that just 15 years ago, countless MCU fans were introduced to Thor for the first time when Phil Coulson discovered Mjolnir in the New Mexico desert at the conclusion of Iron Man 2. Today, the director who launched Thor’s distinguished film career has some ideas about the hero’s next steps.
Kenneth Branagh, director of the original Thor, recently spoke with Business Insider about the film’s 15th anniversary. Back then, he was likely the most renowned director to helm an MCU project, famous for his epic adaptations of Shakespearean works such as Henry V and Hamlet. The interview reveals he was even invited to return for the sequel. “I was delighted to get the offer. They were disappointed—they understood, but still disappointed,” he shared. “They wanted to jump right into a sequel, and who could blame them? But I told Kevin then, ‘I don’t have the energy for it right now.’”
Since then, Branagh has followed the subsequent Thor films, which—particularly after Taika Waititi took the helm—adopted a far more lighthearted and comedic vibe. Even though they’re distinct from his original, Branagh still lauds them. “I think it’s a testament to Kevin’s vision for the character and his world,” he noted. “Watching how flexible the franchise has been in embracing different types of adventures, humor, and narrative directions has been absolutely fascinating to see unfold.”
That doesn’t mean he lacks ideas, though. Fifteen years after Thor’s debut, both the character and actor Chris Hemsworth have grown older—a theme Branagh finds intriguing to explore on screen. “A part of me would love to wrap up my connection to that character. I’ve always wanted to do more, and I actually had a few concepts, along the lines of James Mangold’s outstanding Logan,” he stated. “I’d love to see Chris Hemsworth and the team craft a unique final story that takes Thor into a magnificent twilight phase.”
Mangold’s Logan was a masterful exploration of a superhero’s legacy, depicting an aging Wolverine as he cared for his mentor Charles Xavier in his final days, looked after the next generation of mutants, and eventually met his end— a moment that was playfully referenced in the opening of the MCU’s Deadpool and Wolverine. Maybe, when Kevin Feige is ready to close Thor’s story, he can pull Branagh away from his Agatha Christie projects and bookend Thor’s legacy with the director who started it all.
The next Thor film hasn’t been officially announced yet, but it seems Thor won’t be stepping back anytime soon. We know he’ll return in Avengers: Doomsday, but maybe Thor 5 could serve as his swan song—and there’s no better way to do that than to come full circle.
Thor is now streaming on Disney+.
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