Natalie Portman: ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Shot Its Most Visually Stunning Scene in Best Buy Parking Lot

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorSPOILER ALERT: This interview contains discussions about some scenes and storylines in “Thor: Love and Thunder.”In “Thor: Love and Thunder,” Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie is now King Valkyrie of New Asgard. However, she has not found her queen. “You know, she’s flirty,” Thompson tells me on this week’s episode of the “Just for Variety” podcast.” She’s out in the world.

Refresh for latest…: Disney/Marvel’s Thor: Love And Thunder opened on Wednesday in 17 material international box office markets including Korea, Australia, Italy and Germany. The Day One gross is an estimated $15.7M. That puts it 39% ahead of Thor: Ragnarok and 24% below Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness in like-for-likes and at today’s rates.

“Thor: Love And Thunder,” Taika Waititi’s follow-up to his 2017 breakout “Thor: Ragnarok,” finally hits theaters on Friday. And advance reviews are, well, okay so far? It sounds like Waititi is still having fun making wacky, colorful superhero flicks, but for some critics, the Marvel formula is a little stale.

is a candy-colored carnival of action and humor, and a welcome return of favorite Marvel characters: Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Natalie Portman’s Jane, Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie and Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, popping in from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise. One face you may have failed to identify in the trailer: Gorr the God Butcher, who’s played by Christian Bale. But if you know anything about Bale, you’ll know this guy is recognizably unrecognizable.Bale, 48, is the industry’s standard for body modification.

interview with Rolling Stone magazine, the “Thor: Love and Thunder” director said that he had totally forgotten that Natalie Portman had starred in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy, according to the Wrap. The 46-year-old “Jojo Rabbit” director said that while they were filming “Love and Thunder,” he actually asked Portman if she had ever wanted to be in a “Star Wars” film.“She said to me, ‘What are you up to next?’ I said ‘Oh, I’m trying to work on a “Star Wars” thing. Have you ever wanted to be in a “Star Wars” movie?’ ” said Waititi.“She said, ‘I’ve been in a “Star Wars” movie,’ and I went ‘… should we do another take?’ ”Portman starred as Queen Padmé Amidala in the franchise’s first prequel installment, 1999’s “The Phantom Menace,” alongside Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor and would later reprise her role in 2002 for “Attack of the Clones” and 2005’s “Revenge of the Sith.” Lucasfilm announced on May 4, 2022 that Waititi would be directing his own theatrical “Star Wars” film, but the production company was unclear about when Waititi’s addition to the franchise would debut.

Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi’s critically acclaimed dramedy is heading for its second season.

Over the past decade, FX has found a niche as a home for irreverent shows about culturally specific communities. Few of the network’s recent hits garnered more critical acclaim than “Reservation Dogs,” which tracks the antics and aspirations of Indigenous teenagers who dream of escaping life in Oklahoma for sunny California.

The latest edition in the seemingly never-ending Marvel Cinematic Universe arrives in UK cinemas tomorrow (July 7). Thor: Love And Thunder is the sixth MCU film to be released in the last year, following a slight hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic, just a couple of months on from the release of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.

Appearances by Megan Mullally and comedian/podcaster Marc Maron are planned for the second season of Reservation Dogs, FX’s breakout comedy from Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi. Wes Studi will also reprise his role as Bucky.

RITA Ora looks a gift from the gods at the premiere of fiancé Taika Waititi’s film Thor: Love And Thunder. She went down a storm in a plunging beaded dress as she supported her filmmaker fella at London’s Leicester Square last night.

Natalie Portman admitted to feeling like a bit of an 'outsider' while filming Thor: Love & Thunderduring an interview with Vogue Australia.Since her costars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, and director Taika Waititi, had all previously worked together 'so successfully' on 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, the41-year-old Oscar winnersaid she had to 'figure out how to fit in' with them.'They’re just the nicest people, and also I know Chris and Tessa so well from previous work together, and also I had done Thor movies twice before,' the No Strings Attached Swan star told the magazine. Newcomer: Natalie Portman admitted to feeling like a bit of an 'outsider' while filming Thor: Love & Thunder during an interview with Vogue Australia; seen in 2022She continued: 'So there was a lot of familiarity and comfort in that world too, but it was this weird mix of being the veteran and the newbie at the same time.

Rita Ora and Taika Waititi looked more loved up than ever as they shared a sweet kiss on the blue carpet at the premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder.The I Will Never Let You Down singer was among the many celebrities getting a sneaky first look at the new Marvel movie ahead of its release in cinemas on Friday, and put on an affectionate display at the glitzy event in London on Tuesday night.The 31-year-old artist walked hand in hand with her fiancé, who directed the upcoming film, as she showed up in support of him.Rita radiated elegance in a silver Saab Haute Couture dress that was embellished with sparkly jewels.She wore a pair of metallic platform heels and accessorised her look with a pair of diamond chandelier style earrings.Meanwhile, Taika looked dapper in a blue suit with a black lapel and matching black bow tie.In one photo, the couple was pictured posing with one arm wrapped around each other, while another showed Rita planting a kiss on her husband-to-be’s cheek.Taika was also joined by his two daughters Matewa Kiritapu and Te Hinekāhu, who he shares with his ex-wife, film producer Chelsea Winstanle, and proudly wrapped his arms around them.Rita and Taika have mostly kept their romance on the down low since they started dating last year, but it seems they’re becoming more confident with displaying their affection in public.Masked Singer panellist Rita played coy when initially asked about their relationship, and told Australian Vogue last September: ‘I’m in a great place in my life, that’s all I’m going to say about that.’Since then, they’ve enjoyed a series of high-profile events together and haven’t been shy about cosying up on the red carpet.Elsewhere at the Thor: Love and Thunder premiere, Tessa Thompson

Rege-Jean Page shows off his killer smile on the blue carpet at the premiere of Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder held at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on Tuesday (July 5) in London, England.

In the wake of Universal/Illumination Entertainment’s Minions: The Rise of Gru beating its $80M 4-day projection by 54% at $123M, tentpole fever at the domestic box office isn’t stopping as Disney/Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder is looking at a $140M-$160M start in U.S./Canada and another $150M abroad for a global debut that’s around $300M.

Rita Ora and Taika Waititi are showing off their love on the red carpet. The couple stepped out on Tuesday to attend the U.K. Gala screening of Waititi's latest directorial venture, .Ora, 31, stunned on the carpet in an embellished gown with a plunging neckline, thigh-high slit and open back.

Natalie Portman, director Taika Waititi, and Tessa Thompson pose together at the UK Gala Screening for their film Thor: Love and Thunder on Tuesday (July 5) in London, England.

, hilariously led by star Chris Hemsworth and director Taika Waititi.In ET's exclusive clips from the set of the upcoming Marvel movie — which was filmed on day 84 of the production, back in 2021 — the pair take fans on a tour of the town of New Asgard, though it looks slightly different than when we last saw it in the MCU. shows that King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) has shaped her people's new home into an idyllic, commercialized paradise, however, it's been partially laid to ruin after a confrontation with the film's villain, Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale).Hemsworth and Waititi gleefully add to the destruction as they show ET around the on-set wreckage, smashing windows and throwing bricks and furniture at the destroyed cars and set pieces.«Just a couple of street thugs, aren't we?» Hemsworth jokes as the pair cause hilarious havoc.

In our accelerated age of pop culture ADHD, it is remarkable how quickly something that feels fresh, can feel awfully familiar just one solo film later. Director Taika Waititi’s “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017) was a crucial step in the evolution of Marvel’s Asgardian god, transforming the character and franchise from stuffy, airless Shakespearean theatre to comical, immature clown who has so much to learn despite the thousands of years he has lived throughout the galaxy.

“Thor: Love and Thunder,” out on July 8.However, it wasn’t the easiest task for the “Black Swan” star, who discussed with Vogue Australia how hard it was to come back to set after a decade away.While it was “incredible” and “surreal” to return to the Marvel world, Portman noted that she felt like she had to “figure out how to fit in” again.“It’s so strange when something is very familiar but also, you’re kind of the new kid,” the “Black Swan” star said. Her costars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, as well as director Taika Waititi, had previously worked together on the third film, “Thor: Ragnarok” in 2017.“Because Chris and Tessa and Taika had worked together on ‘Ragnarok,’ and so successfully and so it was like they were all reuniting and I was this newbie in there trying to figure out how to fit in,” she explained.The Israeli-born filmmaker went on, “But also they’re just the nicest people, and also I know Chris and Tessa so well from previous work together, and also I had done ‘Thor’ movies twice before.”Portman appeared in both “Thor” and “Thor: The Dark World.” She also collaborated with Thompson, 38, on the 2018 drama “Annihilation.”“So there was a lot of familiarity and comfort in that world too, but it was this weird mix of being the veteran and the newbie at the same time,” she said.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film Critic“Thor: Love and Thunder” has a pleasing, let’s-try-it-on-and-shoot-the-works effervescence. Like most Marvel movies, the fourth entry in the Thor saga would seem to have weighty matters on its mind, starting with Thor’s hammer, the smashed fragments of which have been reassembled — and, more to the point, claimed — by Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Thor’s old flame. By possessing the mystique of that hammer, she has become the Mighty Thor.

Thor: Ragnarok.” He has the complex motivations of Erik Killmonger of “Black Panther,” but with the mesmeric physical transformation we’ve come to expect from Bale.The Brit is a glutton for punishment.Running time: 125 minutes. Rated PG-13 (intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language, some suggestive material and partial nudity.) In theaters July 8.Able to shed and gain weight with the seeming ease of Alexa delivering the weather report, he’s Hollywood’s most addictive freak. In his latest role, the actor is stick-thin (no Batman biceps here) and looks like he might have fleas.