Chris Hemsworth was not ready to make a long-term commitment to Marvel and almost refused to accept his Thor gig.

Chris Hemsworth’s charismatic presence as Thor in the MCU made him one of the most popular and desirable stars in Hollywood. Beginning his association with the Marvel franchise in 2011, the Australian actor was seen in multiple MCU films including the blockbuster Avengers series and 4 standalone films based on the character.

Chris Hemsworth in Thor: The Dark World
However, audiences almost did not get to see Hemsworth play this iconic superhero. The Extraction star revealed a difficult period in his life when nothing was going right for him. Despite bagging the MCU role, the actor’s low self-esteem made him reluctant to commit to a long-term deal as the God of Thunder.

Why Chris Hemsworth Almost Rejected His Marquee MCU Gig

It is difficult to imagine anyone other than Chris Hemsworth portraying the role of Thor in the MCU. With a towering personality, dashing looks, and a generous dose of humor, Hemsworth proved that he was the perfect choice to play the God Of Thunder. But fans will be baffled to know that the actor almost rejected this prestigious contract with Marvel.

Chris Hemsworth was skeptical to accept the role of Thor in the MCU ( image courtesy: Thor: Love and Thunder)
Hemsworth spoke of a difficult period in his professional life when he faced many failed auditions that made a significant dent in his self-confidence. Having gone through his share of rejections, the Avengers actor lost the belief that he was cut out to headline big projects.

Therefore when he succeeded in winning the part of Thor, Hemsworth’s guard was immediately up. The actor in a candid interview with Sydney Morning Herald, revealed his trepidation about doing justice to the role especially since he was expected to commit to a long-term association with the franchise.

“I remember the exact moment getting a call from my lawyer and my manager saying ‘you got the offer. And then kind of going ‘oh wow, cool. So what is it?’ ‘It’s a superhero thing, and it’s a six-picture deal.’ And we were like ‘that’s a lot of films to sign up for. We should pass on this.’”

Luckily for Marvel and for audiences all over the world, Hemsworth pushed aside the demons in his head and trusted his instincts by accepting the offer. With 2011’s Thor becoming a big hit, the actor’s career trajectory took an upward curve and the rest is history.

Chris Hemsworth’s Wants One Big Change For Thor 5

Chris Hemsworth has the unique distinction of being the only MCU actor to get 4 standalone films based on his character, Thor. The first two films were extremely successful at the box office owing to their entertaining and humorous scripts that combined exciting action.

While Thor: Ragnarok did decent business, Thor: Love and Thunder was panned universally by audiences and critics for its attempt at a darker and more serious narrative. But in incorporating that, Thor’s trademark humor which was perfectly balanced across the other movies, took a more over-the-top turn in this film that did not sit well with fans.

Chris Hemsworth on the Happy Sad Confused podcast
With Hemsworth having signed a 6-film deal, Thor 5 which is set to be the next installment, has not been officially confirmed yet. But the Marvel star was clear about the need for a change of approach in the tone of the narrative if the project were to take off with him in it. Speaking to the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Hemsworth gave his suggestions and said,

“I think there’s a risk in getting lazy then because I know what I’m doing. I don’t know if I’m even invited back, but if I was, I think it would have to be a drastically different version in tone, everything, just for my own sanity… [laughs] Thor lost his mind that last one. He’s got to figure it out now.”

While it is universally accepted that Hemsworth and Thor are a match made in heaven, the ball is now in Marvel’s court to ensure that the narrative of Thor 5 does not go to hell!