A new character list for Thor: Love and Thunder may give a slimpse of a Black Panther relation. Chris Hemsworth’s comeback as the god of thunder is part of Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok sequel, which is building up to be a significant movie in the MCU. It has already been established that Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) will return as Mighty Thor in Thor 4, but everyone from Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) to the Guardians of the Galaxy will be supposed to be reprise, as well.
The fourth Thor film is due to hit theaters later this year, and it follows Thor as he goes to fight with Gorr the God Butcher (played by Christian Bale). It is still unknown about plot specifics beyond this conflict and the genesis of Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor, but Thor: Love and Thunder is likely to explode with full of surprises. That means there’re a lot of linkages to other previous and forthcoming projects for the MCU. Thor 4 is known to help set up Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in some way, but it has no established path to affect other MCU Phase 4 assets.
That Thor: Love and Thunder is linked to the Black Panther myth unfold. This is according to Akosia Sabet, an Australian actress who has updated her IMDb and Showcast accounts (as spotted by Cosmic Circus). Sabet has been cast as Bastet, the Egyptian cat deity who is linked to Black Panther and Wakanda in Marvel fiction. While casting websites like IMDb aren’t always trustworthy, Showcast’s app is more secure and should have been updated by Sabet or someone connected to her job. As a result, she appears to have shot a cameo as Bast in Thor: Love and Thunder, however the extent of her participation is uncertain.
Bast’s existence has previously been acknowledged by the MCU, since the Panther Goddess was hinted in Black Panther’s intro. Bast is the one who led Bashenga to the heart-shaped herb that turned him into the first Black Panther. Bast is also one of the gods encountered by Wakandans in the afterlife, as T’Challa first described in Captain America: Civil War. To yet, no physical incarnation of Bast has been depicted, but it appears that Thor: Love and Thunder may alter that with Akosia Sabet playing the Panther Goddess.
Although Bast’s involvement in Thor 4 has not been confirmed, it is understandable. With Gorr’s participation, it is evident that the film is delving deeper into the mythology of several gods. The film already has Greek gods, including Russell Crowe’s Zeus, and Asgardians are frequently equated to gods in the MCU. A hint of Wakanda’s lore would be a wonderful surprise, even if it would put Bast in jeopardy. Gorr the God Butcher’s title will have to be acquired during the film before he can be shown killing Bastet in Thor 4. Even if this occurs, it establishes a potential link between Thor: Love and Thunder and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where Bast may show up again.
