MCU: Thor's New Look In Love & Thunder Explained

After 2020 put the Marvel Cinematic Universe on an unexpected break, fans can finally start to get excited about the franchise picking back up where it left off. WandaVision has so far knocked it out of the park every week, and now, a full 18 months after the movie was initially announced, the first set photos from Thor: Love and Thunder have arrived.

The ridiculously stacked cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy, have been arriving in Australia over the last few weeks and have now got the ball rolling on filming for Taika Waititi's follow up to the excellent Thor: Ragnarok.

Though it was confirmed long ago that the director would be taking heavy inspiration from Jason Aaron's run with the character, and that Jane Foster would in fact be lifting Mjolnir in the 2022 outing, there are still plenty of surprises this film could spring. One of these has potentially been revealed with the new set photos and revolves entirely around Chris Hemsworth's new costume.

If you can bring yourself to take your eyes off the actor's arms you will notice an outfit that Thor has never worn in the MCU before. Apart from providing a snazzy update to the Odinson's wardrobe, this could also be hinting at the franchise introducing an alternate version of the God of Thunder, Thunderstrike.

The character, real name Eric Masterson, was a normal human being when he met Thor, but when his life was threatened, Odin transferred into him the powers of his son, saving his life and allowing him to live for a short while as Thor himself. Eric, now identical to Thor, was given Mjolnir by the God of Thunder, and was charged with fighting alongside the Avengers and protecting Earth in his place. It was actually Eric who fought Thanos in the Infinity Gauntlet and Infinity War stories - not Odinson.

This was until he returned to Asgard in search of the true Thor, and was manipulated into fighting him by the Enchantress. Thor took Mjolnir back, while Odin ordered the creation of a new weapon for Eric, a mace that would be named Thunderstrike. It was from this new weapon that he took his new moniker, passing the title of Thor back to its original owner.

As Thunderstrike, Eric donned a new costume to distinguish himself from Thor, a costume that looks strikingly similar to the red, sleeveless jacket worn by Chris Hemsworth in the leaked photos.

Could it be that here, Peter Quill isn't actually talking to Thor, but instead the identical Thunderstrike? Since there is currently no version of Mjolnir around in the main MCU continuity, and with the Multiverse of Madness set to widely impact the franchise by the time Love and Thunder is released, is it possible that Thunderstrike will somehow come in from an alternate reality and bring with him a new version of Mjolnir for Jane Foster to ultimately wield?

It could happen, although it could also be the case that the Odinson may adopt the Thunderstrike title as Jane Foster assumes the mantle of Thor. Either that or this could just be a sneaky Easter egg to Thunderstrike, who hasn't maintained a presence in the comics for a long time now, but who could lend himself well to the eighties-inspired Love and Thunder.