The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) latest Disney+ series marks the close of a 14-year chapter for Chris Hemsworth’s portrayal of Thor. Although the actor’s character has been absent since the 2022 film Thor: Love and Thunder, fans will see Hemsworth return as the God of Thunder in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in 2026, where he will face off against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. Hemsworth has completed filming Avengers 5, but it is uncertain if he will continue beyond this or if his character’s journey will end.
Before his live-action return, Thor took a surprising turn in the animated Marvel Zombies series, set on an alternate, post-apocalyptic Earth. In the third episode, Thor appears but is voiced by Greg Furman rather than Hemsworth, marking the first Marvel Studios production featuring Thor without Hemsworth’s portrayal. This is notable given that Hemsworth previously lent his voice to Thor in six episodes of What If…?, which Marvel Zombies follows up on as a spin-off.
Despite not appearing in Marvel Zombies, Hemsworth has supported the MCU’s streaming projects, having voiced Thor across multiple What If…? seasons and even providing the voice for Throg, an alternate Thor frog character that included a secret Loki cameo.
This shift concludes Hemsworth’s continuous run as Thor across Marvel Studios projects from 2011 to 2025. Over these years, he has appeared as Thor 11 times, including cameos, post-credit scenes, and soon in Avengers: Doomsday. His credits include:
- Thor
- The Avengers
- Thor: The Dark World
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Doctor Strange (mid-credits scene)
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
- Loki (cameo)
- Thor: Love & Thunder
- Avengers: Doomsday (upcoming)
While Thor remains set to play a major role in Avengers: Doomsday, Hemsworth’s involvement in the subsequent Avengers: Secret Wars, slated for 2027, has yet to be confirmed. Rumors suggest Thor’s character could be killed off in upcoming Avengers films, potentially signaling Hemsworth’s exit after more than 15 years in the MCU. This speculation could explain his absence from Marvel Zombies, especially since he returned as Party Thor in What If…? Season 3 just last year.
Alternatively, scheduling conflicts or a reduced role for Thor in Marvel Zombies could have led to Hemsworth’s voice being replaced for that series. Since Marvel Zombies is an alternate reality where Thor had not appeared before, this casting change represents the introduction of a new Thor variant, played by Furman, rather than a permanent recast.
Hemsworth’s absence did not affect other MCU actors’ participation in Marvel Zombies, as nine actors, including Elizabeth Olsen, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, and Iman Vellani, reprised their roles for the series.
Future Directions for Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Although fans are awaiting more details on Thor’s role in Avengers: Doomsday, it is confirmed that the character’s appearance will differ from his look in Love and Thunder. According to his coach,
“won’t be as big as Love and Thunder”
when he returns. Thor was a key figure in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, and it is expected that he will continue to be significant, possibly joining the new Avengers team led by Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, who now serves as Captain America.
In addition to Avengers: Doomsday, there are ongoing rumors about a fifth Thor film, which might feature a new director replacing Taika Waititi after the mixed reception of Love and Thunder. However, any such project likely depends on how Avengers 5 and Doomsday perform, as Thor could face significant plot consequences in the upcoming blockbuster.
