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Recently, Chris Hemsworth has discussed the possibility of playing a superhero longer than any other actor. Chris Hemsworth began playing Thor in Thor (2010) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since then, he has played the God of Thunder eight times in the franchise, including his uncredited cameo in Doctor Strange (2016). In the last twelve years, Thor has emerged as one of the essential members of the Avengers and has made Hemsworth an international star. With the upcoming film Thor: Love and Thunder, Hemsworth would have completed twelve years into the role with nine appearances and will become the first actor to have four solo films set in the franchise. Though it’s a considerable number and ample time for an actor to stay committed to the role, Hemsworth isn’t quite there yet.
Long before Hemsworth was even in line to play Thor, Hugh Jackman had already become the fan-favorite superhero, Wolverine, in Fox’s X-Men Series. Hugh Jackman began playing Logan/Wolverine in the movie X-Men (2000). Over the years, the X-Men Series took severe turns in the timeline, but Jackman’s appearance remained consistent. Despite the film centered on other characters, Jackman was most frequently added to the roster to appear, even if it’s in the form of a cameo. That led to Hugh Jackman appearing in nine films, including the cameo ones. Playing the role for seventeen years until Logan (2017), Jackman (alongside Patrick Stewart) set the record for playing a superhero for the most prolonged time.
That puts Hemsworth five or six years behind Jackman. In his interview with BBC Radio 1, Ali Plumb asked Hemsworth if he saw himself breaking the record. Hemsworth responded:
I wasn’t gonna but now that you’ve put that in front of me, you make a good point. It’s only six years. I’ve come this far. To turn back now would just be a waste.
Having Hemsworth take up the Stormbreaker again won’t be a surprise as Love and Thunder may only expand his story in the MCU. With the character moving into a new phase of his life, it is unlikely that he will give up the mantle now that he is being united with Jane and is traversing farther areas of the universe. However, the actor has no extended contract with Marvel Studios, and it may be the last film for him in the MCU.
Hemsworth Still Has Stiff Competition in Jackman
Jackman has retired from the role, but he had expressed his desire to play Wolverine in the MCU, only to admit later that the ship had sailed for him. With Disney’s acquisition of Fox Studios, the character’s rights now lie with Marvel Studios. Furthermore, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Marvel has even started bringing the characters from X-Men into its centerfold. So, it won’t be a surprise to see Hugh Jackman again don those adamantium claws. And since Marvel is about fan service, the studio will most likely try to get hold of the actor to appease the fans. That way, Jackman would be adding up to the number of years he has played Wolverine, further pushing Hemsworth back in line.
Per Marvel Studios’ plans, that could also happen very soon. Deadpool 3 is under production, with Ryan Reynolds reprising the role and Shawn Levy directing. Both have expressed their desire to have Deadpool and Wolverine share the screen. If Levy comes up with a good story, it’s feasible that fans would get their wish and have Hugh Jackman back to his X-Men roots. It’s a far-fetched thought, but it has plausibility. So, Hemsworth must keep his fingers crossed.
Technically, Jackman has been usurped from his throne by Tobey Maguire and Willem Dafoe after they reprised their roles as Spider-Man and Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home. That places a gap of twenty years between their first and last appearances. However, Jackman’s record has more weight as, unlike Maguire and Dafoe, he has played his superhero character consistently with no significant gaps in those appearances.
For now, the primary question is where Thor would head after Love and Thunder. Chris Hemsworth has described it as his most ambitious project to date, and it’s about to send the hero on a new and more exhilarating adventure. Thor: Love and Thunder will release on July 8, 2022.
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