(WARNING: This post contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame, which you’ve hopefully seen by now if you’re reading this.)
All of the Spider-Man shakeup news is what’s currently transfixing the Marvel Cinematic Universe audience, but there’s another transfer of power currently afoot that demands a little attention. This all has to do with Kevin Feige’s recently unveiled plans for Natalie Portman to reprise the Jane Foster role and pick up Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, in Thor: Love And Thunder. She’ll formally be known as Mighty Thor (while Chris Hemsworth is still Thor, maybe?), but before that happens, she might have a little competition for the prized weapon.
Of course, anyone who’s able to wield Mjölnir must first become worthy of the privilege. In Avengers: Endgame, we saw a big payoff that traced all the way back to Age Of Ultron when Captain America was able to pluck up the hammer like it was no big deal. The impossibly principled Steve Rogers apparently had been able to do so all along, and we also saw Vision hold Mjölnir at one point, but it seems that the Norse powers that be might also be alright with Captain Marvel, or at least, with the actress who plays her, Brie Larson.
Larson knew exactly what she was doing here. “Not to be whatever,” she captioned the photo with an angelic emoji. “[B]ut….told you I could lift it.” She may have been mostly taunting the sexist trolls who gave Captain America fake reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but Portman still made sure to tell everyone who’s now boss when it comes to Mjölnir. “Hey muscles, easy with my hammer!!!” she good-naturedly responded while adding multiple heart emoji.
All’s fair in love and thunder, right? Two women can pick up Mjölnir just as easily as the male Avengers who are also worthy, and yes, Larson’s Instagram comments are now a troll-ridden dumpster fire. This will probably continue until (and after) Thor: Love And Thunder arrives on November 5, 2021.