Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Natalie Portman is apparently ‘done’ with the Marvel Cinematic Universe

natalie portman done mcu
Image used with permission by copyright holder
When Thor made his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe back in 2011, Chris Hemsworth starred opposite Natalie Portman, who portrayed scientist Jane Foster. Portman would return for the film’s sequel, subtitled The Dark World, but it seems that her time with the franchise may have come to an end.

We already knew that Portman wouldn’t be returning for next year’s Thor: Ragnarok, as her duties as love interest will seemingly be fulfilled by newcomer Tessa Thompson. However, comments made by Portman in an interview with the Wall Street Journal suggest that the Jane Foster character is unlikely to make a return further down the line.

“As far as I know, I’m done,” said Portman. “I mean, I don’t know if one day they’ll ask for an ‘Avengers 7,’ or whatever — I have no idea. But as far as I know, I’m done.”

That said, the actress doesn’t seem to regret her time working on the Thor movies. She goes on to describe the experience as “a great thing to be a part of,” and despite joking about “Avengers 7,” she seems quite open to returning to the series should the opportunity arise in the future.

However, it seems doubtful that the Jane Foster character will play a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward. The first two films about the Norse superhero managed a reasonable amount of critical and commercial success, but couldn’t match the performance of solo films starring his super-friends Captain America and Iron Man.

Marvel Studios is attempting to remedy this by introducing a host of new characters in Ragnarok — which is another reason why Portman’s role is being phased out. Cate Blanchett, Karl Urban, and Jeff Goldblum are all set to join the cast.

Thor: Ragnarok hits theaters on November 3, 2016.

Editors' Recommendations

Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
What went wrong with The Marvels? 5 reasons why the MCU is in trouble
Brie Larson looks skeptical in The Marvels.

The Marvels | Final Trailer | In Theaters Friday

Marvel and Disney are always scouring the press to get a good pull quote for their films. So for The Marvels, this is what they can use from us here at Digital Trends: "If you want people to stop making comic book movies, then you should make more movies like The Marvels." If superhero fatigue wasn't a thing before this film, it soon will be. The current box office projections for The Marvels show that it may come in at $47 million for its opening weekend, if not lower. That would place it well below many of 2023's other lackluster superhero flicks like The Flash.

Read more
The best MCU sequels, ranked
Thanos about to close his gauntlet in Avengers: Infinity War.

Some say the sequels aren't as good as the original, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe has successfully produced many noteworthy sequels over the years.

Some of these follow-ups have even been labeled far superior to their predecessors due to how they expanded upon their characters, their conflicts, and overall story themes. Since the MCU shows no signs of slowing down, and with The Marvels shaping up to be a financial disaster, the studio should take note of what made these sequels the best in the franchise.
Honorable Mention: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Read more
The worst MCU movies ever, ranked
Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Robert Downey Jr. in the poster for Iron Man 3.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is in flames. Once the pinnacle of blockbuster entertainment, the MCU is now but a shadow of its former self, struggling to control its increasingly complicated universe while trying to maintain audiences' attention. Following the end of the Infinity Saga, the MCU has produced numerous disappointments, and things don't seem to be looking up for the company's future. The Marvels' low box office performance and lukewarm critical reception only confirm the sorry state the MCU has found itself in.

But these issues are not new. We were so high on the MCU craze throughout the 2010s that we gave it a pass or outright ignored the numerous mediocre efforts. While it's easy to point at Thor: Love and Thunder and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania as the beginning of the end, the truth is the MCU has never been perfect. In fact, many of its projects released during the Infinity Saga are duds that only get worse with age. Some are merely adequate, but the worst MCU movies stand among the all-time worst superhero movies, and it's high time we recognize it.
7. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Read more