Chris Hemsworth Feels “Probably Pretty Replaceable” in the MCU
Since his debut in 2012’s Thor, Chris Hemsworth has been one of the brightest stars in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Still, even after appearing in three stand-alone Thor films and four Avengers movies, it is no secret that Hemsworth has often questioned his importance to the franchise.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Hemsworth admitted that while he is eternally grateful for the opportunities that Marvel has given him, playing the God of Thunder has not always been easy.
After the first two Thor movies, Hemsworth grew frustrated with his role.
“Sometimes I felt like a security guard for the team,” he says. “I would read everyone else’s lines, and go, ‘Oh, they got way cooler stuff. They’re having more fun. What’s my character doing?’ It was always about, ‘You’ve got the wig on. You’ve got the muscles. You’ve got the costume. Where’s the lighting?’ Yeah, I’m part of this big thing, but I’m probably pretty replaceable.”
Downey Jr. Lauds Hemsworth’s Performance
Interestingly, his friend and Avengers cohort, Robert Downey Jr., refuses to hear such talk.
“First off, Thor as a character was super tricky to adapt—lots of implied limitations—but he and Ken Branagh figured out how to transcend, make him somehow relatable but godlike,” he says. “Hemsworth is, in my opinion, the most complex psyche out of all us Avengers. He’s got wit and gravitas, but also such restraint, fire, and gentleness.”
Then, came 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. Directed by Taika Waititi, the film’s tone was a complete change from the first two films. It was irreverent, funny, and it let Hemsworth tap into his natural charm and humor.
“I first met Chris on the lot—he was driving a golf cart, his Thor locks flying—careening towards me with a huge grin of welcome,” Remembers Cate Blanchett, who played Hela in Ragnarok. “I had heard he was generous, and boy is he generous, hilarious, and as hardworking and diligent as he is handsome, but I had no idea what a goofball he is. He is a complete goofball. He sets the tone on set—everyone is valued. Everyone is welcome. I adore and admire him deeply.”
Downey calls Hemworth’s performances in Ranarok and the subsequent Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame a “formidable hat trick.” Then came Thor: Love and Thunder.
‘Love and Thunder’ Regrets
Doubling down on the humor that had been such a breath of fresh air in Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder was a bridge too far for many Marvel fans.
“I got caught up in the improv and the wackiness, and I became a parody of myself,” Hemsworth says. “I didn’t stick the landing.”
Still haunted by the failure of Love and Thunder, Hemsworth says that he owes fans another Thor film.
Perhaps then, the God of Thunder has one more reinvention in him, and Hemsworth can finally rest knowing that his work in the MCU is beloved by millions of fans.