Back in April, when it was announced that CREED‘s Tessa Thompson had joined THOR: RAGNAROK, that news ran parallel to the revelation that Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster would not be back for the threequel. This news struck some as rather surprising, considering how important Foster factored into the plots of the first two THOR movies. Marvel honcho Kevin Feige has now come out to confirm those reports and explain a bit of how/why Foster didn’t make the cut.

Feige recently sat down to record an episode of the Empire Film Podcast, and when asked about the reports that Portman/Jane would sit THOR: RAGNAROK out he said, “I can confirm that, yes.” But he didn’t stop there. Feige outlined the main reason that Jane would be absent, and it’s primarily because of the nature of the story being told. “There are only a couple of scenes on Earth in this movie. 80 to 90 percent takes place in the cosmos.” 

So it’s seemingly more of a story decision than a “we don’t want to pay Portman” type of thing. 

It’s interesting to note that, despite Jane being Thor’s primary love interest, Marvel Studios seems to have toyed with the idea of switching up Thor’s romantic options. Lady Sif, as played by Jaimie Alexander, has seemed like a possibility, and word has it that Thompson’s character in THOR: RAGNAROK may be a new romantic foil for the God of Thunder. One has to wonder if they’re eventually just going to write Jane out completely. 

The move wouldn’t be entirely surprising. Marvel Studios seems to be shifting more towards have strong female characters in their films, and moving away from damsel-in-distress types. In the kinds of stories a character like THOR finds himself at the center of, that’s the only kind of character Jane can really be. Giving Thor a love interest that can stand on a more even playing field beside him and against his rogues is probably of interest to the studio.

What do you think? Will you miss Jane Foster in THOR: RAGNAROK?

SOURCE: Empire