Russell Crowe to Appear in Thor: Love and Thunder!

After being seen out with the rest of the cast and crew at a National Rugby League match in Australia, Deadline has brought word that Oscar winner Russell Crowe (Unhinged) has signed on to star in Taika Waititi’s highly-anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel Thor: Love and Thunder!

The photos coming out saw Crowe hanging out with the writer/director as well as stars Chris Hemsworth (Extraction), Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic World: Dominion), Natalie Portman (Lucy in the Sky) and Hemsworth’s partner Elsa Pataky (Fast and the Furious franchise). Interestingly, Isla Fisher (Godmothered) was also seen spending time with the group, though with her living in Sydney, Australia with husband Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) and their children, chances are it was a matter coincidence or non-Thor related revelry had amongst the group.

Sources report that Crowe’s role is being kept under Asgardian watch but is intended to be a fun cameo they had hoped to keep secret for fans and will be a fun bit akin to the play on Thor’s homeworld featuring cameos from Charlotte Nicdao, Luke Hemsworth, Sam Neill and Matt Damon, the latter three of whom are confirmed to be returning to reprise their roles in the fourth film.

The fourth film is being helmed by Waititi once again on a script co-written by the Oscar winner and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Someone Great) and will see fellow Oscar winner Natalie Portman returning to her role of Jane Foster as she gains similar powers to the titular hero and becomes The Mighty Thor while undergoing cancer treatments, as well as the returns of Jaimie Alexander as Sif, Guardians of the Galaxy stars Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn and Vin Diesel, while Oscar winner Christian Bale will star as the villain, Gorr the God Butcher.

The female Thor storyline is based on Jason Aaron’s run on “The Mighty Thor” in which a cancer-stricken Jane Foster takes up the mantle and powers of Thor. Thor and Valkyrie were last seen in the highest-grossing film of all time Avengers: Endgame, with the god of thunder entrusting his responsibilities as the King of Asgard to Valkyrie as he joins the Guardians of the Galaxy on their next mission.

Thor: Love and Thunder will now be arriving in theaters on May 6, 2022.

(Photo Credit: C Flanigan/Getty Images)