Yes, Thor: Ragnarok Helped Chris Hemsworth And Tessa Thompson Book Men In Black: International

Thompson and Hemsworth in the Men in Black trailer

It's no secret that superhero movies are everywhere. Arguably the most popular genre in filmmaking, tons of talented actors are hoping to become superheroes themselves, and therefore allow their professional profile to skyrocket due to the record breaking nature of comic book flicks. Becoming a Marvel or DC hero often leads to other acting opportunities, which was apparently the case with Thor: Ragnarok co-stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson.

Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson have already had long and successful careers when they bantered and kicked ass in Taika Waititi's Thor threequel. But their chemistry was palpable in theaters, with Marvel fans hoping the duo of Asgardians might return for a fourth movie. And it turns out that their work together helped them book the lead roles in the upcoming Men In Black: International, as producer Walter F. Parkes recently revealed:

The first three pictures are very dependent on Will and Tommy's particular chemistry and on the comic approach that Barry brought. So we knew we needed performers with these vivid personalities and an inherent rapport, and luckily we could see the seeds of that in Thor.

While Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones' Men In Black shoes are giant ones to fill, Walter F. Parkes revealed to EW that the team of Men In Black: International did their best to find actors who could play off each other just as successfully. And given how unique Valkyrie and Thor's relationship in Ragnarok was, the pair of Thompson and Hemsworth seemed like the perfect dynamic duo to take on the the iconic black suits, and face intergalactic threats.

Despite the innumerable reboots and remakes currently being produced by the entertainment world, moviegoers do seem excited to jump back into the Men In Black franchise with International. This is likely due to the film's fantastic cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, and Kumail Nanjiani. And with Thompson and Hemsworth taking center stage for the upcoming sequel, they can rest easy knowing Marvel fans are behind them.

Valkyrie with a knife to Thor's throat

Thor: Ragnarok was a game changer for the Thor franchise, as Taika Waititi took on the mantle of director and brought a sense of levity and irreverence to one of the OG Marvel properties. While the threequel was lacking Natalie Portman's Jane Foster, Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie showed up on the screen to show a very different Asgardian. She had a tragic backstory, a substance abuse problem, was an LGBT character, and fit right in with Thor, Hulk, and Loki.

While Valkyrie was noticeably absent during Avengers: Infinity War (especially the first scene depicting the Asgardian massacre), smart money says she'll pop back up in the MCU eventually. It's just not clear when, as Marvel Studios hasn't released its slate of movies for Phase Four, and the Thor franchise's future is a total mystery.

Men In Black: International will reunite Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth when it arrives in theaters on June 14, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your trips to the movies this year.

Corey Chichizola
Movies Editor

Corey was born and raised in New Jersey. Graduated with degrees theater and literature from Ramapo College of New Jersey. After working in administrative theater for a year in New York, he started as the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. He's since been able to work himself up to reviews, phoners, and press junkets-- and is now able to appear on camera with some of his favorite actors... just not as he would have predicted as a kid. He's particularly proud of covering horror franchises like Scream and Halloween, as well as movie musicals like West Side Story. Favorite interviews include Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more.