Natalie Portman probably isn’t the first woman you’d imagine to tackle a superhero role, given her petite stature and previous filmography. But in the upcoming “Thor: Love & Thunder,” Portman returns to the Marvel franchise to do just that, to become a hero of her own—the Mighty Thor. But as she explained in a recent interview, having another female superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t just important for the young women in the audience. It’s important for everyone.
READ MORE: Chris Hemsworth Says He Is Not Retiring As Thor After ‘Love & Thunder’
During an interview on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Portman was asked about her upcoming film, which she is currently about to begin production on, “Thor: Love & Thunder.” And the actress does talk a bit about what it’s like to shed the role of love interest and become a superhero in her own right in the forthcoming film directed by Taika Waititi.
For those unaware, in the comics (and now, in the films), Portman’s character, Jane Foster, lifts Thor’s hammer and is imbued with the powers of the God of Thunder. And no, she doesn’t call herself Lady Thor. As far as her upcoming appearance in “Thor: Love & Thunder,” the actress didn’t spill any details, but Portman did confirm that Mighty Thor will have superpowers, but they’re not going to be the same set of abilities as her male counterpart.
READ MORE: Taika Waititi Doesn’t Think It’s A Bad Thing That ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’ Has Been Delayed
“She does have powers,” said Portman. “It’s not exactly the same as Thor. It’s her own version of it.”
So, when ‘Love & Thunder’ arrives in theaters, the world will be introduced to yet another female superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, joining the crew that includes Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Wasp, Okoye, Scarlet Witch, and many more. And according to Portman, having female superheroes isn’t just important for the girls in the audience, but just as important for the boys, as well.
“I think people usually say how great [representation] is for the girls, but it’s really important for the boys,” she said. “For the boys to see women in those types of characters, in those types of personalities, and it just expands the opportunity for how we all see each other.”
As mentioned, production is expected to begin soon on “Thor: Love & Thunder,” and the current release date for the film is February 11, 2022. You can see her talk about Thor with Kelly Clarkson below:
And if you’re curious about Mighty Thor, here’s a breakdown of the comic book storyline that could influence the upcoming film: