If Thith Dothent Happen I'll Be Thor

News out of the intewebs just now.  Taika Waititi, the director of the surprisingly fun third Thor film, Thor - Ragnarok, will return to write and direct the fourth installment of the Thor series.  I'm actually a touch surprised that there is going to be a 4th Thor film, but apparently it's in the pipeline.  As an audience we've been conditioned to expect trilogies for these kinds of characters, so number four feels important.  Perhaps it's a sign of a James Bond style rethink of the whole MCU, where every once in a while there's a recast of one character or another.  If Thor is going to continue indefinitely, at some point Chris Hemsworth will have to step aside.

I'm going to put my two cents (surprise, surprise) on this one now.  What I'll suggest won't happen.  Movie studios are just too risk averse given the huge money on the line for a film like this.  But it should.  Going the way I suggest might be a way to condition audiences for these kinds of recasting scenarios going forward.

In the comics, there came a point (not clear on the details, I don't actually read the Thor comics) when Thor's gal pal, Jane Foster, ends up wielding the magic hammer Mjolnir and becomes a female Thor.  I'm not sure if she takes a different name, but I don't actually care.  I say throw some of that Disney money at Natalie Portman, build her a smokin' metal bustier and make Thor a woman.  There's already precedence for someone other than the son of Odin to heft the hammer and Marvel has gone on record as saying they're "in" for more diversity in their product.  Just man up and woman up already. 

Seriously.  It happened in the comics.  It's a built in plot point that would capitalize on some of the current "girl power" momentum from both the Captain Marvel and Endgame films.  Portman's a bona fide star.  What's the hold up?

And if for some reason Portman isn't down for the role, recast Foster.  I recommend another Viking lady of note, Lagertha herself, Katheryn Winnick. 

To be perfectly honest, I think Winnick could probably kick Chris Hemsworth's ass, magic hammer or not.  I know I'd pay money to see her throw down with Ruffalo's Hulk.  While Hemsworth might give her a fight, I'm 100% she'd beat the shit out of Mark Ruffalo and not break a sweat.