Female Thor is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

There's a new Thor in town, and it's Jane Foster.

Marvel Studios announced as much during their Comic-Con panel Saturday, revealing that the fourth Thor movie, now titled Thor: Love and Thunder, would reveal Thor's erstwhile girlfriend as the new God of Thunder. The film will be based on the Mighty Thor comics, written by Jason Aaron.

Natalie Portman, who played the character in Thor, Thor: The Dark World, and Avengers: Endgame, will once again play Jane.

Chris Hemsworth will return as Thor Odinson (and wow, is it going to get confusing real quick to have two characters called "Thor" running around). Thor will now be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe lead to get four standalone films.

In addition to Portman and Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson will reprise her role as Valkyrie, previously seen in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame.

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And Valkyrie, who was crowned king of Asgard in Avengers: Endgame, will explore some new territory for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"As the new king, she needs to find her queen," Thompson reportedly said at the panel.

During the Thor: Ragnarok press tour in 2017, Thompson indicated that she had played Valkyrie as bisexual, as she is in the comics. However, a scene that would have confirmed the character's sexuality was cut from the movie. In the final edit, the character's sexuality is not indicated.

Since then, Marvel Studios executives have promised at least two queer characters would be coming to the MCU. In an interview with io9 after the panel, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that Valkyrie will be one of the MCU's first LGBTQ heroes.

As previously reported, Taika Waititi, who helmed Thor: Ragnarok, will be back to direct Thor: Love and Thunder. The film hits theaters November 5, 2021.