The character of Thor has undergone some immense changes since his introduction in the 2011 titular film. Originally shown to be a bit of an idiot and brat that wasn’t worthy of the throne, Thor has evolved into a silly, witty comedic force in the MCU. Hell, he’s even packed on a few pounds in the process, literally bringing a new layer to the character. And this evolution has a lot to do with actor Chris Hemsworth, who turned being bored and disinterested in his superhero character to helping change Thor into the loveable goof he is now.
Speaking to Variety, the actor explains how his love of the new Thicc Thor changed the story of “Avengers: Endgame” and how he’s grateful that a couple of other franchise roles passed him by, giving him the chance to tackle the God of Thunder.
For those that haven’t seen “Avengers: Endgame,” Thor’s first appearance in the film is one of the biggest laughs, revealing that the normally chiseled God has been reduced to a chubby, drunk version of himself, complete with the beer belly as proof. Dubbed “Thicc Thor” by fans, this new iteration of the character has become a cultural phenomenon and somehow brought even more new life to the character.
And according to Hemsworth, Thicc Thor might not have been here to stay in ‘Endgame.’ The interview reveals that the actor fought to keep Thicc Thor thick by pleading with the filmmakers not to revert him back to his hard-bodied self halfway through the film, as was originally intended.
“I enjoyed that version of Thor,” he says. “It was so different than any other way I played the character. And then it took on a life of its own.”
Obviously, if you’ve seen the film, Thicc Thor is the new status quo for the character, though we don’t know what the future holds. And for fans of the new chubbier Thor, you can thank Hemsworth.
And to think that this whole Thor business could have been drastically different if Hemsworth wasn’t eventually cast in the role. You see, back before “Thor” was even a thing, the actor had flirted with a superhero role and another franchise already.
“I got very close to ‘GI Joe,’” he said. “I got very close to Gambit in the Wolverine ‘X-Men’ movies.”
He added, “At the time I was upset. I was running out of money. But if I played either of those characters, I wouldn’t have been able to play Thor.”
Now, both of those films are regarded as less than awesome versions of the popular franchises, with Taylor Kitsch’s version of Gambit seen as a low point in a film filled with plenty of subterranean moments. At least “GI Joe” got a sequel, albeit with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson taking the lead. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” almost sank the entire X-Universe with its stink.
So, again, if you’re a fan of Thor and Chris Hemsworth’s portrayal of the character, you can thank Taylor Kitsch and Channing Tatum for killing their auditions and beating out a young, hungry Hemsworth.