Honestly, if you look at the trajectory of Jane Foster in the MCU, it’s a bit of a mess.
When Natalie Portman in Thor first showed up back in 2011, she was the quintessential "damsel in a lab coat." She was brilliant, sure—an astrophysicist who could track Einstein-Rosen bridges—but she mostly existed to look up at Chris Hemsworth with dreamy eyes. Then came The Dark World, a movie even Portman reportedly didn't love. She spent half the film as a literal vessel for the Aether, basically a glowing plot device.
Then she vanished. For nearly a decade.
People thought she was done with Marvel for good. The breakup was "mutual," according to a throwaway line in Ragnarok, but behind the scenes, things were much more complicated. Portman had been vocal about wanting more for her character, and the departure of director Patty Jenkins from the second film left a sour taste.
But then, Taika Waititi showed up at her house with a glass of water and a wild idea: What if she didn't just love Thor? What if she was Thor?
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The Transformation Nobody Saw Coming
The return of Natalie Portman in Thor for Love and Thunder wasn't just a cameo or a quick paycheck. It was a complete reinvention.
We’ve all seen the photos. Those biceps. They weren't CGI. Portman spent ten months training with Naomi Pendergast, hitting the gym for two hours a day starting at 4:30 a.m. She was drinking vegan protein shakes until she probably couldn't stand the sight of them.
The goal? Get "as big as possible."
Most actors in their 40s aren't asked to pack on that kind of lean mass, but Portman leaned into it. Her workout was a grueling mix of heavyweight training and agility work. Think Arnold presses, bicep curls, and a lot of boxing. She had to look like someone who could actually swing a shattered Mjolnir without their arm snapping off.
It was a far cry from the ballerina physique of Black Swan.
Why the Comics Version Hit Harder
In the comics—specifically the Jason Aaron run that inspired the movie—Jane’s transformation is tragic. Every time she picks up the hammer, it purges the "poison" from her body. The problem? That "poison" is the chemotherapy treating her stage IV breast cancer.
The movie kept this, but the tone was... different.
Waititi’s signature humor meant Jane was cracking jokes while her body was failing her. For some fans, it felt like it undercut the weight of her sacrifice. In the comics, Jane becomes Thor because she believes there must always be a Thor, even when the original Odinson becomes unworthy. In the film, Mjolnir chooses her partly because of a promise Thor once made to the hammer to "protect her."
It’s a subtle shift, but it changes her agency. She’s still a hero, but it’s a hero born from a relationship rather than just pure, objective worthiness.
What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The filming of Love and Thunder was an improvisational fever dream. Portman has mentioned in several interviews that they shot about 20 different versions of every emotional scene. They’d do one version that was heart-wrenching, one that was a slapstick comedy, and one that was just weird.
"There were whole sequences, planets, characters, and worlds that didn't end up in the movie," Portman told IndieWire.
Basically, there’s a four-hour cut of this movie somewhere that we’ll probably never see. It apparently included scenes with Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster and Lena Headey, both of whom were completely axed from the theatrical release.
Portman’s dynamic with Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie) was one of the highlights for many, but even a lot of their "space-adventure-besties" content was left on the cutting room floor. They spent weeks designing sets and worlds that simply didn't make the 119-minute runtime.
The Worthiness Debate
Is Jane Foster a better Thor than Odinson? That’s the question that usually starts fights on Reddit.
The truth is, she’s a different kind of Thor. She uses Mjolnir in ways Chris Hemsworth’s character never thought of. Since the hammer was shattered, she could command the fragments to fly out like shrapnel and then reform. It was a tactical, scientific way of fighting that suited a doctor.
But her tenure was always meant to be a flame that burned twice as bright and half as long.
By the time she reaches the gates of Valhalla in the post-credits scene, her arc feels complete. She went from being the girl on the ground looking at the stars to being the star itself.
What’s Next for Jane Foster?
While Jane died at the end of Love and Thunder, this is Marvel. Nobody stays dead if the box office says otherwise.
In the comics, Jane doesn't just stay in the afterlife. She eventually becomes a Valkyrie. With the MCU currently exploring the Multiverse and various afterlives, it wouldn't be shocking to see Portman return for an Avengers event or a standalone project set in the cosmic realms.
Portman herself has said she’s open to it. She had fun this time. That seems to be the key factor for her—if the role is "juicy" and the director lets her be weird, she's in.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors:
- Read the Source: If you want the "darker" version of this story, pick up The Mighty Thor (2015) by Jason Aaron. It handles the cancer storyline with a level of gravity the movie couldn't quite maintain.
- The Fitness Angle: Don't try Portman's 4:30 a.m. routine without a professional. Her trainer focused heavily on "injury prevention" (Pilates and stretching) because lifting that heavy at 40+ carries high risks for the joints.
- Watch the Deleted Scenes: If you have Disney+, go into the "Extras" section. Some of the cut content gives more context to Jane’s transition from scientist to warrior that felt a bit rushed in the main film.
Jane Foster’s legacy in the MCU is finally more than just being "the girlfriend." She’s a god. And whether she stays in Valhalla or finds a way back to the land of the living, Natalie Portman finally got the superhero moment she was promised back in 2011.