Thor is set to become the first Marvel Cinematic Universe hero to get 4 solo films

Marvel is officially doubling down on Thor in its new, post-Endgame era.

A fourth Thor movie is in the works with Thor: Ragnarok's Taika Waititi set to return as director, The Hollywood Reporter wrote on Tuesday. This will be the first time any hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe receives more than three solo movies, as Comicbook.com points out. Captain America and Iron Man previously only had trilogies dedicated to them, although their storylines continued in the crossover Avengers movies and other installments like Spider-Man: Homecoming. Avengers: Endgame was the first time the MCU released a third sequel.

The third Thor film, Ragnarok, totally reinvented the character after two installments that even star Chris Hemsworth hadn't been entirely happy with, and it was the highest-earning entry by far, grossing $853 million worldwide compared to its predecessor's $644 million. Now, Marvel is breaking from its usual trilogy pattern in order to strike while the iron's hot and continue telling stories with the new version of the hero. While Endgame wrapped up the storylines of original Marvel heroes like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, it left Thor's decidedly open, although it wasn't clear at the time whether his plot line would continue in the third Guardians of the Galaxy film, a fourth Thor film, or both. The answer, it seems, may be both.

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Hemsworth had previously expressed his desire to keep making Thor movies, telling Variety in an interview earlier this year that "we've opened up such a different character" and that "I feel more energized for the possibility of where it could go." It's unclear when this fourth Thor film might be released, but an official announcement may come at Marvel's upcoming San Diego Comic-Con panel, which will take place on July 20.