Movie fans absolutely love easter eggs, especially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With so many characters and films richly intertwined, anticipating the next film and plot is one of the most enjoyable aspects for viewers. From the frenzy-inducing appearance of Captain America’s shield during the original Iron Man to the homage to Bruce Banner (aka the Hulk) in Spider-Man: Homecoming, there are numerous nods to upcoming or established characters during Marvel movies.
One of the most recent and well-received examples was Thor: Love and Thunder, a continuation of the popular Norse-inspired series featuring Chris Hemsworth as the titular character. This movie also featured Natalie Portman as his sidekick, and Christian Bale as a supervillain hellbent on their destruction. The movie was so well-received that there have since been numerous spin-off products for people to enjoy, making them feel part of each electrifying adventure.
A particularly exciting scene during Thor: Love and Thunder came during the end credits, in a nod by Marvel to upcoming movies and new plot lines. Hercules, played by Brett Goldstein, was introduced in a surprise cameo that hardly anybody saw coming. Will he avenge his father Zeus? Or will Hercules and Thor form a surprising partnership to combat a larger evil?
The answers to these questions may be answered over the next few years, with Marvel fans watching as intently as ever to find any potential clues. For now, we’ll explore the easter egg in further detail. Keep reading for a lowdown.
How Ancient Greek Mythology Continues to Influence Modern-Day Entertainment
Thor: Love and Thunder isn’t the only part of modern entertainment influenced by Ancient Greek mythology, far from it. Zeus, Hercules, and the other gods have long inspired movies, books, games, and more. Even though the framework was first created over two thousand years ago, there’s no getting away from the gods.
This is especially obvious in the modern online casino industry, which regularly uses Ancient Greece as a theme for online slots and other games. There are numerous titles to choose from if you’re a fan, with Gates of Olympus being arguably the best one. This Pragmatic Play slot has Zeus as a central character flanked by the likes of Poseidon and Hades.
Thor: Love and Thunder: An Essential Recap
Before we explore the Hercules-related easter egg at the end of Thor: Love and Thunder, let’s run through an essential recap of the main plotline. Spoiler alert! We won’t hold back from spilling the details to properly refresh your memory.
The movie begins with Thor seeking purpose following the climactic events during Avengers: Endgame. He joins the Guardians of the Galaxy, but soon parts way with the team due to a distress signal from Sif. Here, Thor learns of a new threat to the galaxy and the gods – Gorr.
What follows is a desperate adventure around the galaxy with stops at New Asgard, as Thor tries to rally support against Gorr, who has pledged to kill all the gods with the destructive necro-sword. Together with Portman’s Mighty Thor character, they travel to Omnipotence City to convince Zeus to come to their aid. The leader of the gods, played by Russell Crowe, refuses and is ultimately impaled with his own thunderbolt after a fight.
The final act sees Thor battle Gorr, while ultimately failing to save Jane Foster aka the Mighty Thor. Her sacrifice allows Thor to destroy Gorr, ending the film on a positive note despite the sad loss. Despite all this, it’s the post-credit scene that generated the most excitement, introducing Hercules into the fray.
What was the Marvel Hercules Easter Egg?
Marvel fans have become accustomed to staying until the end of the credits to see insights into future films, and Thor: Love and Thunder was no different. During the credits we see an injured Zeus asking his son Hercules to go and avenge his injury and kill Thor. Hercules is revealed to be played by Brett Goldstein, in an exciting development for the MCU.
Not only does the scene tease the character’s involvement in a potential sequel or standalone movie series, but it also adds an extra layer to the Thor mythology. Marvel comics have long explored the relationship between Thor and Hercules, so avid fans will be hoping to see this underrepresented storyline play out on the big screen.
Other Upcoming Marvel Movies To Watch Out For
Here are some more upcoming Marvel movies to look out for:
● Fantastic Four
● Thunderbolts
● Blade
● Spider-Man 4
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