The latest look at the upcoming Marvel sequel Thor: Love and Thunder offers another glimpse at Natalie Portman’s return as Jane Foster, who this time will be undertaking her own superhero persona as The Mighty Thor. Coming courtesy of Marvel Studios, the image also gives us another look at Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, now the king of New Asgard.

     Marvel Studios

Sat atop thrones and looking all kinds of serious, The Mighty Thor and New Asgard’s king cut a regal figure. As well as once again showing off Portman’s return and her astonishingly muscular arms, the image also provides our first look at a new god. One with links to Black Panther and Wakanda. If you glance your eyes to the bottom right-hand corner, you will see Bastet, played by Akosia Sabet. A god worshipped by the people of Wakanda.

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Based on the many thrones, this image is likely showing us the MCU’s version of the “Congress of Worlds,” a congregation of representatives of the Nine Realms, who have no doubt gathered together to discuss the mysterious disappearance of many gods at the hands of Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher. Clearly, while Thor is busy meditating and trying to leave his super-heroic responsibilities behind, The Mighty Thor will be taking the opposite approach.

Jane Foster’s Return Will Have a Huge Impact on Thor

Not seen since Thor: The Dark World, Jane Foster will soon be back in Thor’s life. Rather than the mild-mannered scientist, however, she will instead emerge in Thor: Love and Thunder with her own set of superpowers as The Mighty Thor. Wielding Thor’s former weapon, Mjölnir, Foster’s comeback is bound to have a major effect on the God of Thunder. As director Taika Waititi put it recently, it’s going to be a real “mindf—k.”

“It’s been about eight years. She’s had a whole other life, and then the love of your life comes back on the scene, and is now dressed like you. It’s a real mindf–k for Thor,” the filmmaker said.

Waititi has also warned audiences that Foster’s return may not play out exactly as they expect. “I wanted to embrace this thing that I was always a bit dismissive of, and explore this idea of love, and show characters who do believe in love,” he explained. “On paper, it feels kinds of cringy to me, but there’s a way of doing it with cool characters making a cool movie, and also having a thing that no fan ever wants in a superhero movie, which is people talking about love, and characters kissing. I think most people will assume that the love story is between Chris and Natalie. I can’t promise that what people think is going to happen in this film will happen.”

Starring Chris Hemsworth as Thor, alongside Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, Jaimie Alexander, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Jeff Goldblum, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper, Thor: Love and Thunder is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 8, 2022, as part of Phase Four of the MCU.