10 Times Marvel Sabotaged The MCU

4. Thor: The Dark World's New, Uninspired Direction

Black panther
Marvel Studios & Rotten Tomatoes

One of the worst MCU films, Thor: The Dark World was derided for its dull atmosphere, forgettable villain and generic script holding no intrigue despite the best efforts of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. The first sign of trouble came in after original director Patty Jenkins left the film following the well-worn reason of creative differences.

She later revealed that the script was not in line with her own plans (something in the vein of Romeo and Juliet mixed with cosmic suspense/intrigue). Importantly, her plans would have given Natalie Portman's Jane Foster more to do and would have added layers to Odin's disinterest in Earth and humanity. Jenkins' departure angered Portman, and soured her relationship with Marvel for the next several years.

The studio hired Game of Thrones director Alan Taylor to take the helm, and unfortunately his own plans (a magical realism approach to the Convergence's effect on Earth, Loki staying dead and ending Thor and Jane's relationship) were ignored in favour of what audiences ultimately got.

The only positives that came out of the behind-the-scenes drama are the complete reinvention of Thor as a character under the capable hands of Taika Waititi and the Loki TV series. So, there's that, at least.

Contributor

David Ng'ethe hasn't written a bio just yet, but if they had... it would appear here.