Marvel is bringing #JaneThor to the movies. The entertainment company announced yesterday it would release Thor: Love and Thunder in 2021 which will feature Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster picking up mighty Mjolnir aka Thor’s hammer for those not versed in Norse mythology. Via E! Online.

On Saturday, [Natalie Portman] made a surprise appearance at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2019, appearing at Marvel Studios’ panel, where it was announced that she will play the title superhero in the fourth film in the franchise, Thor: Love and Thunder. Chris Hemsworth, who played Thor in the first three films and the Avengers movies, will also return.

Director Taika Waititi told the Comic-Con audience while they were shooting Thor: Ragnarok, he read from Jason Aaron’s Mighty Thor comic series, which depicts Jane as a female Thor

“So, there’s only one person who can do that,” Waititi said, referring to Portman.

The actress then took the stage and was handed a replica Mjolnir hammer.

“This feels pretty good,” she said. “I’ve always had a little hammer envy.”

It should also be pointed out this is not the first time Foster has appeared as Thor. Marvel’s What-If series in 1978 featured an issue where Foster got the hammer – instead of the intended Donald Blake (Thor’s original secret identity in Marvel).

My TL has been flooded with MCU news from SDCC (understandably so). 3 months ago after seeing Endgame I posted about how cool it would be to have a fun comic series that I enjoyed reading come to life in the MCU. I just happened to pick this issue for the post. #janethor #whatif pic.twitter.com/BSHxIKyVmN

— Geof (@geoftweets) July 21, 2019

Of course, the main reason for #JaneThor coming to the movies is the popularity of the 2014 to 2018 series which featured the character. The story was extremely well written by Jason Aaron and did not come off like a suddenly thrown together project going, “Let’s shake things up and make Thor a woman!” Aaron had a definitive plan and stuck with it – and Marvel let him do it.

The promotion of the series? Well, that’s a different story. From Marvel’s 2014 announcement.

This October, Marvel Comics evolves once again in one of the most shocking and exciting changes ever to shake one of the “big three” of Captain America, Iron Man and Thor. No longer is the classic Thunder God able to hold the mighty hammer, Mjölnir, and a brand new female hero will emerge worthy of the name THOR.

Who is she? Where did she come from and what is her connection to Asgard and the Marvel Universe?

“The inscription on Thor’s hammer reads ‘Whosoever holds this hammer, if HE be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.’ Well it’s time to update that inscription,” says Marvel editor Wil Moss. “The new Thor continues Marvel’s proud tradition of strong female characters like Captain Marvel, Storm, Black Widow and more. And this new Thor isn’t a temporary female substitute – she’s now the one and only Thor, and she is worthy!”

It’s a horribly-written news release with cringe-worthy quotes. It’s so bad several friends of mine had to convince me to actually read the title once it was released. Thank Odin the story was really good, made sense, and wasn’t written as some sort of “Hi, we’re doing this to surprise you!” nonsense with no follow-up. And, yes, the Odinson got his hammer back, eventually.

The only concern of mine on this upcoming Thor movie is whether the makers are trying to throw too much into one film. Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and the Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) will also be in the film – although it isn’t known how large of a part they will play – it seems like Valkyrie and #JaneThor will be the focus. It also depends on whether the Odinson will be killed or take Odin’s place as King of the Asgardians. Or if he has to go on some walkabout which can be charted in another film (Guardians 3?) or elsewhere.

There are plenty of questions regarding how Marvel will pull this off – but it can definitely be done and done well. We’ll just have to see in 2021. Here’s hoping they don’t promote Thor: Love and Thunderbolts like #JaneThor was originally promoted. That won’t go well.