Returning Thor star Natalie Portman has talked about the importance of Marvel fans, suggesting they are partly the "creators" of the MCU.
The actress returns to her role of Jane Foster, now the Mighty Thor, in new outing Love and Thunder after sitting out third movie Ragnarok.
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Portman admitted the fan experience of her coming back has been "incredible".
Related: Thor: Love and Thunder is the most entertaining Phase 4 movie yet
"I mean, it's so meaningful to have people receive anything you make with so much passion and love and – Tessa was talking about this earlier – but going to the premiere last week and seeing people dressed up as the characters and just so fervently passionate about them... it reminded me of what an incredible experience this whole thing is, to make something that you love making and get to do this super crazy fun job," she said.
"And then also have it received with such love. So, yeah, I feel like the fans are part of the creators of this whole universe."
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Director Taika Waititi has also explained to us how he changed things up after Ragnarok to keep the franchise fresh, saying: "The big difference creatively and in terms of the story was wanting to push Thor in a direction that felt more emotional, where he was challenged by more human issues and things that would make him more relatable.
"He was great in Ragnarok and he was really fun, it was like a reinvention of the character, but I felt like we could go further with finding more about who he is.
"Not just, 'I don't want to be King', it's more like, 'Who am I? What's my purpose? Will I ever fall in love? Will anyone ever love me? What's my place in the world?'"
Thor: Love and Thunder has a release date of July 7 in the UK and July 8 in the US. The other three Thor movies are available to stream now on Disney+.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
Gabriella Geisinger is a freelance film critic and journalist, with a focus on J-drama & film, and the Japanese production industry. She was previously Locations Editor at Screen International and Deputy Movies Editor at Digital Spy. Her writing can also befound in Curzon, 1883, and more. A born and raised New Yorker, she loves coffee and the colour black, obviously.
