While it looks like we won’t be getting any massive lineup updates about the Marvel Cinematic Universe anytime soon there are some early seeds being planted for a hypothetical “Thor 5” and what could interestingly be a sign we might be heading back to more Thor-focused comic book mythology being the inspiration for it. Some new quotes from an upcoming “Thor: Love & Thunder” tie-in book (via ScreenRant) reveal writer/director Taika Waititi’s feelings on where things should be heading for the God of Thunder in a fifth potential film.

“What is left to do to him? It’s got to be something that feels like it’s carrying on with the evolution of the character, but still in a very fun way and still giving him things to come up against that feel like they’re building on the obstacles that he has to overcome. I don’t think we can have a villain that’s weaker than Hela. I feel like we need to step up from there and add a villain that’s somehow more formidable”

It’s a project that hasn’t been made official by Marvel Studios but is likely to happen given Chris Hemsworth’s willingness to return to the role and the last film establishing Valhalla as another MCU realm where both Jane Foster and Heimdall now reside after their on-screen deaths. It’s the location of the mythical great hall of fallen heroes where the Valkyries take the dead warriors from the battlefield to prepare for victory at Ragnarok.

Valhalla opens the door for all sorts of Norse characters to potentially make their MCU debuts such as Balder The Brave, Karnilla The Norn Queen, Amora The Enchantress, Angela, Sigurd, and even an even more obscure villain like Harokin who is one of The Einherjar, the fallen undead heroes of Asgard/Valhalla that are expected to be called upon by Odin to fight the Jotun as part of his army.

Another option could be Thor’s uncle Cul Borson, aka The Serpent, who more or less could end up becoming the movie version of the Midgard Serpent. In Norse mythology, the Midgard Serpent, aka, Jörmungandr (recently seen in the “God of War” games and tied to Marvel’s Multiverse villain The Black Winter) is a massive snake-like creature and child of Loki that is destined to kill Thor in the events of Ragnarok with its deadly venom. Jörmungandr does kill Thor in Norse legends and might be exactly the kind of “formidable villain” Waititi is referring to in these teasing statements.

We’ve actually already experienced one of these deadly end-of-the-world beasts in the past. “Thor: Ragnarok” featured Fenris Wolf (a version of Fenrir), a giant wolf that kills Odin during the final battle of Ragnarok. But this version was the undead companion of Hela and was dispatched by Hulk as Odin had died earlier in the film. Hulk flung Fenris off the edge of Asgard into the void of space.

Of course, there are even more outlandish contenders like Ulik The Rock Troll, the long-rumored Mephisto (Marvel’s cosmic take on the Satan that is a longtime foe of Thor), and in a hilarious episode of “She-Hulk,” it’s been established Asgard’s allies, the Light Elves, are walking around Midgard.

While some may be in the belief that Brett Goldstein’s Hercules and the Greek pantheon of gods should be antagonists, it feels sort of like small potatoes compared to what Waititi is talking about. Plus, circling back to the Norse elements would be super refreshing after Marvel goes out of their way to avoid tackling all the existing unused material this whole time (light elves, rock trolls, giants, Midgard serpent).

The filmmaker also reiterates the importance of focusing on Thor’s comic book mythology which hopefully means they may return to untapped Norse/comic elements they’ve been avoiding this entire time.

The director also revealed that there is one aspect that he thinks is more true to Thor than any other MCU character, and that is “the mythology that he originates from.” Waititi believes pitting Thor against “more and more outlandish and crazy beasts, monsters and aliens” as he continues in the MCU stays true to Thor in the comics and his mythological origin.

However, it’s worth mentioning that Waititi has given the impression in previous interviews he might be moving on from making future “Thor” installments himself. And it wouldn’t be that surprising given the negative reaction to “Love & Thunder” alongside the filmmaker’s increasingly large dance card that includes a remake of “Flash Gordon” at 20th Century Studios, “Klara & The Sun” based on the Kazuo Ishiguro novel, an adaptation of Jodorowsky/Moebius’ sci-fi fantasy graphic novel “The Incal,” and finally a long-gestating “Star Wars” film at Lucasfilm.

I guess we’ll have to be patient about any future developments concerning “Thor 5.”

SOURCE: TITAN’S THOR: LOVE & THUNDER THE OFFICIAL MOVIE SPECIAL