What to Watch Before ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

thewrap.com:

“Thor: Love and Thunder” is nearly upon us.The fourth solo Thor movie with star Chris Hemsworth, “Thor: Love and Thunder,” explores our favorite God of Thunder has he deals with the murderous threat of Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) and the more emotional upheaval of his long-lost love Jane Foster’s (Natalie Portman) return – as the Mighty Thor. (Yes, she also wields the hammer.

She is worthy!) Part romantic comedy, part high-octane space odyssey, part mythological quest, “Thor: Love and Thunder” is a lot.

And it is awesome.And while “Thor: Love and Thunder” is more removed from the mainline Marvel Cinematic Universe continuity, there are still a handful of projects that you should see before going into the latest MCU extravaganza. (If “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” felt like having to do homework, then this is the Marvel movie for you.) Here’s our handy guide on what to watch before “Thor: Love and Thunder.” And don’t worry, we’ll keep things spoiler-free beyond what’s already been shared in the trailers.The inaugural “Thor” adventure, floridly directed by Kenneth Branagh, established the world of Asgard, a land that combines grand, “Lord of the Rings”-style fantasy and more grounded science fiction.

The first movie also lays the groundwork for the central power struggle between Thor and his slippery half-brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), something that resonates in future chapters of the saga.