Thor: Love and Thunder – Taika Waititi Instagram post fuels speculation dead MCU character is set to return

Rumoured addition would join a packed cast of returning Marvel faces

Photos posted to Instagram by Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi have fuelled speculation that the series might bring back a dead MCU character.

The filmmaker, who previously directed Thor: Ragnarok to some acclaim, along with non-MCU comedies What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and JoJo Rabbit, is set to direct the next entry in the Thor series.

While much is still unknown about the film, it has already been reported that Chris Pratt, who plays Peter “Star Lord” Quill in the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers films, will reprise the role in Love and Thunder.

Natalie Portman is also reprising the role of Jane Foster from Thor and Thor: The Dark World, along with Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok).

And now fans are suggesting that a character who was killed by Thanos in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War could make a reappearance here.

Elba as Heimdall in Thor: Ragnarok (©Marvel Studios 2017)

The character in question is Heimdall, the Asgardian hero who could “see all”, played by Idris Elba.

Elba was spotted together with Waititi in New Zealand, with the director posting a photograph on Instagram of the pair together at a Rugby match. 

With production on Love and Thunder having begun in Australia in September, many are putting two and two together and speculating that Elba is filming scenes as his Thor character, who was murdered by Thanos at the beginning of Infinity War.

Elba has previously suggested that he would be willing to return to the role, despite his character’s demise, saying: “Listen, Heimdall is essentially part of the god family. So you know, he essentially could be alive. I'm just saying! I'm just putting it out there.

“The Heimdall character goes way back into, you know, the Thor mythology. And I'm sure there will be an interesting way to bring that alive. Of course I would [return]. Yes.”

Thor: Love and Thunder will be released in cinemas in 2022.