Following the God of Thunder’s return in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, Thor 5 could give Chris Hemsworth’s MCU God of Thunder an appropriate sendoff by adapting the hero’s most dangerous villain. Despite taking more than two solo movies to find his footing, Thor has been one of the most deeply developed characters in the MCU. Thor’s MCU journey has seen him go from a boastful king-to-be to a heroic Avenger and a rightful king, to a humble warrior at peace with his failures.

After redeeming himself for not being able to save his realm and his loved ones, and after coming to terms with his past and reclaiming his reputation, Thor’s character arc seems to have reached its conclusion. Chris Hemsworth has also posted a heartwarming tribute to Thor, expressing his appreciation for the character and his fans. Hemsworth’s letter of graтιтude to his Marvel hero has sparked speculation about Thor’s fate in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, where the Asgardian god could pull off a selfless sacrifice like that of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame.

Thor Deserves A Big Story Of His Own To End His MCU Journey

Thor’s Arc Leads Him To A Final Battle Worthy Of A God

Although Thor has been the only Avenger to star in four solo movies and four Avengers crossover movies, he has only had one unanimously well-received solo film, Thor: Ragnarok. Having Thor sacrifice himself to save his teammates and the multiverse in an Avengers movie would fit his character, but it would also reinforce the notion that his story is defined by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Instead, Thor would benefit from a final solo chapter that highlights his idenтιтy as an ancient cosmic god whose legacy extends far beyond Earth and the Avengers.

Thor: Love and Thunder had a much better box office run than other Multiverse Saga installments, but it did little to advance Thor’s journey or lay the foundations for an eventual farewell. Thor: Love and Thunder also undermined Gorr the God Butcher’s threat and made Thor’s most powerful enemy seem like a minor inconvenience. Marvel Studios can end Thor’s story on a more exciting note, and despite Thor: Love and Thunder‘s mixed reception, there’s still plenty of interest in the character to warrant at least one additional solo movie.

The Black Winter Is The Perfect Final Villain For Chris Hemsworth’s Thor

The Black Winter Has Been Thor’s Biggest Comic Book Challenge In Recent Years

In 2020, Donny Cates’ Thor #1 launched a new chapter in the God of Thunder’s comic book story with the introduction of one of the most dangerous enтιтies in the Marvel multiverse. Now King of Asgard and a retired Avenger, Thor felt purposeless, but also anxious about his reign’s potential failure. Suddenly, an injured Galactus crash-landed on Asgard, and Thor found himself forced to become the Devourer of Worlds’ Herald in order to fight Galactus’ former master, the Black Winter, a devourer of universes.

Thor’s brief time as Galactus’ Herald was defined by an intense moral conflict, as he had to feed entire planets to Galactus in order to power him up. Apart from threatening to consume the entire universe, the Black Winter tormented Thor by copying his physical appearance (as well as that of his biggest enemies) and reminding him of his doubts and fears. As an extraordinarily powerful and visually distinct foe, the Black Winter stands as one of the few Thor-exclusive antagonists left to adapt to live-action.

Thor 5 Can Bring Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder To His Infinity War Prime

A Black Winter Thor Sequel Could Make The God Of Thunder A Serious Hero Again

Thor reached the height of both his popularity and power in Avengers: Infinity War, where his failure to defend Asgard and the consecutive deaths of Odin, Heimdall, and Loki reshaped him into a focused hero in search of revenge. This transformation led to some of Thor’s best moments, like forging Stormbreaker and his thunderous arrival in Wakanda. Since then, though, Thor gradually shifted toward comic relief, and his character arc began to stagnate. Thor: Love and Thunder then wasted Gorr and missed the chance to send the God of Thunder’s story in a new direction.

Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars offer a chance to course-correct, and Thor 5 could deliver a climactic finale where Thor reestablishes himself as a god who takes his power seriously by defeating a cosmic-level threat by himself. In the comics, Thor’s reluctant decision to side with Galactus and face the Black Winter with little support from other Asgardian or Midgardian heroes serves as a self-imposed test of courage. Thor no longer has to prove he’s worthy of the throne, as he’s already king, but he feels the need to prove his worth to himself, even if that entails the ultimate sacrifice.

An MCU Black Winter Adaptation Can Also Give Galactus His Next Best Appearance

Thor 5 Could Give Galactus His First MCU Role Separate From The Fantastic Four

Ralph Ineson’s Galactus will make his MCU debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, where he attempts to consume the Fantastic Four’s world and faces resistance from the alternate-universe superhero team. While the Fantastic Four could kill Galactus with the help of a weapon like the Ultimate Nullifier or powerful characters like Franklin Richards, Silver Surfer, or even Doctor Doom himself, Galactus’ MCU introduction offers him the chance to become a recurring character. In Thor 5 and other MCU installments, Galactus could serve as an antagonist to a wide variety of characters and an ally to others.

For the first time in Marvel history, a live-action Galactus could play a significant role in other characters’ stories. An MCU adaptation of Thor’s Black Winter storyline could be a unique opportunity, as Galactus would be a secondary hero for most of the movie’s runtime. The interactions between a desperate Galactus and a reluctant Thor would be unprecedented, and supporting characters like the Silver Surfer and Beta Ray Bill could enrich their dynamics further. Of course, it would be up to Marvel Studios to spare Galactus’ life in Thor 5 in order to give him more chances to shine after fighting the Black Winter.

An MCU Black Winter Adaptation Leaves Plenty Of Room For Creativity

Thor 5 Could Offer A Bold New Take On The Black Winter Arc

Thor 5‘s adaptation of the Black Winter arc would need to be different from the source material, as Asgard is no more, and Thor gave up the throne in Avengers: Endgame. If Thor 5 is the final chapter in the hero’s journey, it would also be up to Marvel’s judgment to have Thor make a final sacrifice, have him retire from his warrior lifestyle, or travel to uncharted realms as a peaceful nomad. Fortunately, it’s precisely Marvel’s willingness to take creative liberties that has led to many of Thor‘s best MCU moments. With a similar approach to Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel could make a Black Winter-inspired Thor 5 the best farewell to Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder.