In a surprising turn of events at SDCC this year, Natalie Portman made her grand return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Jane Foster wielding Mjolnir, the legendary Asgardian hammer. This news was met with thunderous applause and sent shockwaves amongst legions of Marvel fans eager to see beloved characters reintroduced with renewed purpose.
But sparking this incredible MCU resurrection wasn’t a magical spell from Asgard – It was the crafty persuasion tactics of director Taika Waititi himself. Waititi, praised for revitalizing Thor with his unique brand of witty action-humor in Ragnarok and Love & Thunder, sat down with reporters and spilled the beans about just what convinced Portman to trade astronomy textbooks for superhuman battles anew.
Interestingly, Waititi’s pitch involved leaning hard into the character’s strength and overcoming a hurdle fans knew intimately: heartbreak related to Thor. Jane Foster’s arc in earlier MCU films saw her deeply hurt by several perceived betrayals and ultimately leaving the Marvel fray behind. “We discussed everything in relation to Jane,” recalled Portman speaking of Waititi’s pitch. “I asked him the question: ‘Why was it important?’ to bring this story from a narrative perspective.” He explained that with her own fight against cancer intertwined with the narrative, she wouldn’t just be the damsel in need of saving anymore,
Waititi’s vision extended beyond typical love ballads found in Thor films – Jane taking up Mjolnir provided the chance to craft an authentically empowered woman warrior. This bold choice resonated with Portman; Jane becoming worthy represented an incredible triumph on a personal front after navigating hardship offscreen. She found that concept to be both emotionally rich and, importantly, “inspiring” – allowing her to bring new life – and literal firepower – to the beloved character
This behind-the-scenes insight allows fans to connect with Portmant’s journey on a deeper level. It emphasizes that superhero franchises are ultimately grounded in the actors’ desires and choices too: seeing Portman embrace this unique opportunity underscores Marvel’s increasing willingness to explore complex, character-driven narratives.
More than just rehashing old beats, Waititi tapped into the desire for genuine transformation and agency, reminding us that even in a universe teeming with hammer-wielding gods and intergalactic travel, the human stories underneath are the ones that truly resonate. And that’s a superpower no one can replicate.